BREAKING: Lagos Bans Okadas, Tricyles, Including Opay, Gokada

Activities of commercial motorcycles, popularly called Okada, and tricycles, known as Keke Napep have been banned by the Lagos State Government in some Local Government Areas of the state.

Opay and Gokada operators are also included in the ban.

Advertisement

The government says full enforcement of the ban would commence on February 1, 2020.

Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos on New Media, Jubril A. Gawat disclosed this on his twitter handle @Mr_JAGs on Monday.

Among the 15 Local Governments and Local Council Development Centres affected are Apapa, Apapa Iganmu, Lagos Mainland, Yaba, Surulere, Itire Ikate, Coker Aguda, Eti-Osa, Lagos Island, Ikeja, Onigbongo, Ojodu, Ikoyi-Obalende, Iru Ikoyi-Obalande and Lagos Island East.

Advertisement

Recall that the state government had on January 21, 2020, denied claims that it has banned Okada and Keke on some routes in the state.

According to the statement signed by the state’s Information and Strategy Commissioner, Gbenga Omotoso, the Sanwo-Olu led administration declared that the list of restricted areas for Okadas and Kekes is false and should be disregarded.

Omotoso had maintained that a definite position on the issue will soon be made public through the official media channels of the government.

Advertisement

“We have just concluded our routine security meeting, during which the issue of Okada and tricycles was discussed. For now, no major decision has been taken on the matter. There are several factors for this development, but the main reason was to reckon with various opinions expressed by stakeholders,” the statement read.

“So many people have made representations to the government concerning commercial motorcycles and tricycles, including human rights groups, unionists and traders. They came up with many reasonable observations; all their views have been collated and are being considered.

“We feel it will not be good enough for the government to take a final decision on the matter without considering the opinions of the stakeholders.”

Sanwo-Olu was believed to have been unhappy with the manner in which Okadas and Napeps have turned Lagos into.

“The violation of traffic laws by commercial motorcyclists is unacceptable,” Sanwo-Olu was quoted as saying while lamenting the violation of all traffic laws.

Leave a comment

Advertisement