The Lagos State Government is definitely not letting off steam in its determination to rid the state of commercial motorcycles popularly called Okada as it announced on Monday that it would crush and recycle over 4,000 seized motorcycles.
According to the Punch, The state Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, said the decision to crush the motorcycles was in line with the provisions of the Lagos State Traffic Law, 2012.
“So far, we have impounded about 500 motorcycles since we started renewed efforts and we now have a total of about 4,000 okadas to be crushed. The law makes provision for how the seized motorcycles should be handled. The law also makes provision for how to handle those who flout the law.”
Owoseni said aside from impounding the motorcycles, the enforcement agents would henceforth arrest operators and passengers. He said the state will institute a mobile court to try those arrested.
The police commissioner noted that due to the constant challenges of enforcing the law, the state government was considering an outright ban on okada operations in some areas, starting with the Lekki and Victoria Island areas.
“Okada riders have been a sort of menace. They go into the road and flout the laws with impunity. When they get to traffic lights, they behave as if it is not meant for them. Also, criminal elements use motorcycles to either snatch money or as a getaway in some areas. Not only that, they flout the 8pm closing time given to them,” Owoseni said.
The Acting Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Olanrewaju Elegushi, said the government wanted commercial motorcycles to steer clear of restricted routes as the clampdown on defaulters would be total.
The Federal Road Safety Corp has also called for the total ban of the Okada in country as a means of reducing the rate of road accidents.
