Okada Riders Comply With Ban Order, Stay Off Lagos Roads
Commercial motorcyclists (popularly known as Okada) hugely complied with the ban order issued by the Lagos State government.
A journey around the six affected local government areas by an Eighteen-Eleven Media correspondent reveals that the riders stayed off the roads in Apapa, Ikeja, Surulere, Lagos Island, Lagos Mainland and Eti-Osa local government areas.
Though they complied with the order, some riders, however, appealed to the Lagos State governor to rescind his decision as their livelihood is hinged on plying their trade.
A rider who identified himself simply as Abdullahi and operated between Mile 2 and Apapa before the ban advised the state government to regulate rather than an outright ban on the activities of the commercial motorcycle. According to him, many lives depend on what the operators make daily. “I don’t know what the government would want to happen to the people who survive on this business. I think the government should have regulated our activities, and register us so that everybody knows the other person.
“I am not sure the government considers the likely effect of the ban. What are we supposed to be doing now? Sit at home and watch TV? he queried.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had on 18th May 2022 announced a total ban on the operations of Okada in six council areas effective 1st June 2022.
