Lagos Okada Ban: Two Trucks Load With Okada Riders Leave Lagos

Commercial motorcyclists popularly known as okada riders have started leaving Lagos, as enforcement of ban on motorcycle and tricycle operations in major areas of the state took effect on Saturday.

Many okada riders have already surrendered to the enforcement by relocating from Lagos with their motorcycles.

A resident of Ishaga Close, Itire, Yusuf Salau recounted how a number of motorcyclists left Igbeyin Adun Street, Ishaga, around 6am on Saturday in two trucks loaded with their motorcycles.

“The majority of them are not from Lagos. They told me they were going back to their states. It is possible some of them would relocate to neighbouring states where there is no ban,” Salau said.

An okada rider, Salisu Garuba, from Nasarawa State, said he just bought his motorcycle and he did not want to lose it to the police.

He stated, “I am going back to my state. Police once seized my motorcycle and I knew what I went through before I got it back. If they seize it this time around, I doubt I would get it back.”

The state government had on Monday proscribed the operations of okada and tricycle riders in Apapa LGA, Apapa Iganmu LCDA, Lagos Mainland LGA, Yaba LCDA, Surulere LGA, Itire-Ikate LCDA, and Coker-Aguda LCDA.

Others are Ikeja LGA, Onigbongbo LCDA, Ojodu LCDA, Eti-Osa LGA, Ikoyi-Obalende LCDA, Iru-Victoria Island LCDA, Lagos Island LGA and Lagos Island East LCDA.

The ban covered 2,000 routes, including major roads, expressways and bridges.

Meanwhile, stranded commuters around the state have expressed discomfort caused by the ban which affects six local governments and nine local council development areas of the state.

A hair stylist in Ogba, Mrs Olabisi David, told Sunday PUNCH that she trekked from her residence in Ikeja GRA to Ikeja under bridge, where she boarded a bus to her shop.
“I suffered today (Saturday),” David bemoaned. “I was at the roadside for one hour without seeing any tricycle to take to Ikeja under bridge,” she said.

David stated that she later walked down to the Police College, hoping to catch up with any tricycle. She was disappointed. “I trekked down to the under bridge. I was so tired. It is not convenient for me to be walking this long distance every day but I have to go to shop. Government should put a human face to the ban,” she stated.