Okada ban: Civil society groups commend Sanwo-Olu, call for total clampdown on motorcycles in Lagos

A coalition of civil society organisations, known as The Defend Lagos Coalition Group, has called for total clampdown of commercial motorcycles (okada) operations in the whole of Lagos State.

The groups made the demand during a world press conference on the total clampdown of commercial motorcycles held at the Excellence Hotels at Ogba in Lagos on Wednesday.

The Defend Lagos Coalition Group is an amalgamation of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), faith and community based organizations, which exist to collectively engage critical stakeholders and advance causes that seek to better the lives of Lagosians.

Speaking on behalf of the groups, the Leader of the Defend Lagos Coalition Group, Comrade, Declan Ihekaire, said Lagos State has got to the stage where motorcycles should not be a preferred choice of transportation in a Centre of Excellence.

Also speaking, Comrade Jubril Ogundimu of Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC),  Dayo Ogunlana of the Coalition of Oodua Self Determination Groups and  Oladosu Rasaq of Grassroots Democratic Initiatives (GDI), among others, called for total clampdown of motorcycles in Lagos State.

Comrade Ihekaire, the National Coordinator of Activists for Good Governance (AGG), disclosed that the independent survey carried out by the grassroots-based organisations revealed that the majority of the motorcycle riders in Lagos are foreigners from the Republic of Chad, Niger Republic and other neighbouring countries.

He said the coalition has been able to establish that the activities of the motorcycle riders constitute a very potent risk to the lives and properties of Lagosians. They, therefore, insist that the operation of commercial motorcycles in Lagos must be stopped before it is too late.

“Available records have shown that motorcycle operations have been identified as the favorite of criminals who torment people in traffic and their various communities,” he said.

Ihekaire commended Lagos State Governor,  Babajide Sanwo-Olu for the bold step he has taken on the ban on okada operations in six local government council areas and nine Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs).

He said Sanwo-Olu’s ban of operations of motorcycles in some parts of Lagos State has shown without any doubt that he is a dutiful servant of the people who is ever ready to listen and carry out the people’s desires in line with his constitutional mandate for Lagos State.

“The operations of undocumented motorcycles have been banned in Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Kaduna, Kano, Nassarawa, Deta and Abia states. Therefore, Lagos State should do the same.

“We want to urge all Lagosians, who are concerned about the lawlessness and insecurity caused by the activities of commercial motorcycle riders in Lagos State to support Governor Sanwo-Olu in enforcing a ‘Total Clampdown’ on motorcycle activities in the state to put an end to the menace being caused by the activities of the motorcycle riders.

“The failure to enforce a total clampdown on motorcycles in Lagos will amount to a major threat to peace, public safety and the continued survival of law-abiding citizens of Lagos State. We implore all the law enforcement agents in the state to join forces with the government in implementing the ban without any compromise.”