The Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Hon. Sola Giwa, made this known on Monday while on a tour to some restricted areas within the state, where large numbers of motorcyclists (okada riders) had resumed operations, reaffirming that the state government’s ban on okada in the affected areas still persisted.
The ban on commercial motorcycles popularly called “okada” in 10 Local Government Areas, (LGAs) and 15 Local Council Development Areas, (LCDAs) in the metropolis is still in place, the Lagos State Government has said.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Hon. Sola Giwa, made this known on Monday while on a tour to some restricted areas within the state, where large numbers of motorcyclists (okada riders) had resumed operations, reaffirming that the state government’s ban on okada in the affected areas still persisted.
The disclosure is coming barely a week after Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu won his second tenure – in an election whose result is still contested by the Labour Party and the Peoples Democratic Party in the state.
Meanwhile, the SA, Giwa, identified the LGAs where okada had been banned as; Kosofe, Oshodi-Isolo, Somolu, Mushin, Apapa, Ikeja, Lagos Island, Lagos Mainland, Surulere and Eti-Osa, noting that the LCDAs as Ojodu, Onigbongbo, Lagos Island East, Yaba and Coker Aguda.
Others at; Itire-Ikate, Eti-Osa West, Iru Victoria Island, Ikoyi-Obalende, Ikosi-Isheri, Agboyi-Ketu, Isolo, Ejigbo, Bariga and Odi-Olowo.
He however, warned both riders and passengers to keep off, the governor’s aide urged the general public to comply, stressing that any defaulter is liable to three years in prison if apprehended and prosecuted, with their motorcycles impounded and crushed in the public view, in line with the provision of Section 46, sub-section 1, 2 & 3 of the Transport Sector Reform Law (TSRL), 2018.
Giwa also solicited for support on government policies by all and sundry, noting that despite the available existing interventions and viable alternatives provided for okada operators which were expected to cushion the effect of the ban on their livelihood, the riders had refused to take advantage of them.