The ban on the operations of commercial motorcycle operators in various parts of Lagos State has been in place for 16 weeks and three days.
Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the governor of Lagos, ordered a complete ban on the use of commercial motorcycles in several local government areas effective on June 1, 2022.
He made the announcement during a meeting at the Lagos House in Ikeja with all Divisional Police Officers and Area Commanders in the state.
The local governments and local council development areas affected by the ban are Ikeja, Surulere, Eti-Osa, Mainland, Lagos Island and Apapa.
Later on in August, 2022, the government convened a forum of stakeholders to share the ‘good news’ about the progress made since June 1 full enforcement of the ban.
The Commissioner for Transportation, Dr Frederic Oladeinde, disclosed that the crime rate reduced by 86 per cent, while the accident rate went down by 63.7 per cent.
During the period, 7,500 motorcycles were seized and crushed in line with the state’s laws.
The ban was further extended to four other more local government areas: Kosofe, Oshodi-Isolo, Shomolu and Mushin with effect from September 1, 2022.
Reacting to this, Apelogun urged the government not to ‘throw the baby away with the bath water’.
He said most of the members in the affected areas were now begging to eat because they could no longer feed their families.
He said, “The primary objective of the government is to protect lives and property of every citizen and make sure their well-being is so paramount to them, not sending 40 million Nigerians to the labour market that is already saturated.
“The ban is counter- productive since a headache can never be relieved by chopping one’s head off. The idle hand is the devil’s workshop. The lives of these okada riders must be taken into account by the government. They cannot leave them stranded without any means of support.
“To be able to take care of these people who are now unemployed, Okada riders need microloans. Government must care for them rather than merely remove the resources they utilize to support themselves and their families.
