Ban forces Lagos commercial motorcyclists to inner routes, Ogun communities - TrendyNewsReporters Ban forces Lagos commercial motorcyclists to inner routes, Ogun communities - TrendyNewsReporters
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Ban forces Lagos commercial motorcyclists to inner routes, Ogun communities

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AYOOLA OLASUPO observes that commercial motorcyclists banned from some parts of Lagos State have devised another means

Orderliness has replaced the rowdiness which used to be the feature in some Local Government Areas in Lagos State such as Mushin, Oshodi and Apapa, due to activities of commercial motorcyclists otherwise called Okada riders.

Disorderliness of the riders became worrisome to the state government as their reckless activities claimed lives and limbs in the state. The development forced the state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to order the ban of their operations in four LGAs and five Local Council Development Areas on September 1, 2022, after the initial directive on six LGAs on February 1, 2020.

The additional councils where the ban was ordered included Kosofe, Oshodi-Isolo, Shomolu and Mushin LGs. Others are Ikosi-Isheri, Agboyi-Ketu, Isolo, Bariga  and Odi-Olowo LCDAs. The state earlier in May 2022 ordered a total ban of the operations of commercial motorcycles on highways. The six local governments affected by the ban were Ikeja, Surulere, Eti-Osa, Lagos Mainland, Lagos Island, and Apapa.

The state Commissioner for Transportation, Frederick Oladeinde, had earlier announced the extended ban during a press conference.

He noted that the ministry, in conjunction with the inter-ministerial committee on Okada, having critically assessed the resolutions and the challenges of Okada operations on the security architecture of the state, recommended to the governor not to rescind the already laid down ban to sustain the gains.

Our correspondent who combed some of the areas where the ban was ordered noticed enforcement by security agents and compliance by the affected riders who were said to have moved to other areas to avoid arrest.

In some places in Mushin and Ikeja LG, Saturday PUNCH observed that there were no signs of commercial motorcycles. But at Ikeja Bus Stop, the former parks of the Okada riders had been taken over by tricycle riders who took turns to take passengers.

The ban was fully complied with in the major roads in Ikeja but the riders’ activities were observed in Olowu Street, Ikeja, where they only took passengers going to inner routes.

A trader who identified herself only as Rebecca for fear of attack by the riders, said residents were happy with the government’s decision, noting that the ban had stopped frequent accidents in Ikeja.

Rebecca said, “The Okada riders were always at the entrance of Oyetubo Street waiting for passengers. But they no longer operate there because of the ban. An enforcement team comes often to arrest them. Any Okada rider would be arrested on sight even if he is not carrying any passenger. We have not seen any Okada since the ban and I think it has saved many things, especially the accidents that happened almost every time.”

Also, a tricycle coordinator at Oyetubo Junction, Ikeja, Michael Aikulola, stated that since the ban of motorcycles in February, tricycle operators had extended their operations to some of the places previously plied by commercial motorcycles.

Aikulola stated, “If it is not because of the regular traffic in Lagos, tricycles are much better than motorcycles. Tricycles have taken over some parks formerly used by Okada riders and everything is going on smoothly. Government has a task force that arrests any Okada rider who flouts the order. Some Okada riders now have interest in riding tricycles while others sold their bikes to add money to get tricycles on hire purchase.”

Also, a resident in the Mushin axis who gave her name only as Adepejo also for fear of attack suggested that the ban was an opportunity for Okada riders to start new jobs in the state.

She said, “The problem was caused by our people who are always in a hurry to reach their destinations. Okada always conveys people to their destinations quickly but now that their operations have been outlawed in some areas, there are many things that those affected can do. In fact, tricycle is more preferable to Okada.’’

It was also observed that at Bolade market, Oshodi and Mushin markets where activities of okada riders were high before the ban, their parks had been taken over by mini bus operators.

Reacting to the development, Amalgamated Commercial Motorcycle Owners, Repairers and Riders’ Association of Nigeria earlier described the development as counterproductive, saying it would not solve the complexity of problems in the state.

The ACOMORAN President, Samsudeen Apelogun, said that, “Banning commercial motorcycles without providing an alternative means of transportation is counterproductive.”

Riders lament

However, in some exempted places such as Ijaiye, Agege, Iyana Ipaja and Igando, our correspondent saw that commercial motorcyclists recklessly plied roads.

Some of them lamented that the money made by plying inner streets cannot be compared to what they got by plying major roads.

In the Ojokoro Local Council Development Area, some commercial motorcycle riders at Ijaiye, Meiran and Kola bus stops spoke with our correspondent.

One of them, Ola Ajayi, said he was forced by the ban to move to inner streets in order not lose his bike to the task force.

Ajayi stated, “As you can see, all of us are only taking passengers inside the streets. Some colleagues moved to Ogun State. I can’t afford to lose my bike, which is my means of livelihood. I won’t be on the expressway either. Some people ply major roads but they do so at their risk.’’

Another rider, Olumide Obatope, stated that he hoped the government wouldn’t extend the ban to the inner route he had moved his operation to. He said, “My hope is that the government will not extend the ban to inner routes which I moved to, to continue my business.’’

But amid the enforcement of the ban, some obstinate motorcyclists still find ways to ply highways where their activities were banned.  One of them who identified himself by a nickname, Baba Oloke-nla, however, said they were vigilant in engaging in such acts.

He added, “We are careful when conveying passengers on the expressway. We know it’s risky but we can’t do without it. That is where we get good money. We really do not make much from street to street business.”

In Agege, some of the commercial riders who spoke with Saturday PUNCH faulted activities of the enforcement team, adding that they often raided them to seize their bikes for onward destruction.

One of the victims, Sodiq Abubakar, said he once had one of his fingers injured when struggling to protect his bike from being seized.

 Abubakar said, “I have been in Lagos since 1982 and all my seven children were born in the state. I have faced a lot from the task force. I owned seven bikes and they were seized by a task force in Agege and Egbatedo. That period was tough for me because I feed seven children. Someone gave me the one I ride now and I pay a weekly delivery of N8,000.”

He added that he was into selling onions before switching to bike riding when the business was dull.

He noted, “I raised money to buy seven cars one by one. I gave them out to six people and they delivered money to me weekly. But as they were making delivery, I was riding using mine too for business. I was saving for the future because I know that I cannot do the business till old age. But everything turned around when the task force seized the bikes. When police impounded the bike, they would request N50,000 to get it back. The go to inner streets now because they rarely find motorcycles to arrest on the expressway.’’

In his contribution, a rider, Mohammed Bolobu, stated that his other colleagues in Mushin and Oshodi could not migrate to parks such as Agege because they were not familiar with the streets and routes in the metropolis.

Bolobu expressed sadness over the frequent raids by the state task force, stating that he was into bike riding to raise some money to start another business.

He explained, “We don’t know what to do with the task forces. They seized two of my bikes at Iyana-Ipaja and  Agege. The places are not part of where Okada activities were banned but the team arrests us at inner streets. There was a time my bike was seized and I was charged to a mobile court. I nearly went to prison but for the payment of N10, 000 as fine.  I dread plying the expressway. We dare not try it whenever we see the task force. Some of our colleagues have moved to communities in neighbouring Ogun State.’’

He added that it was sad that the economy was bad, stating that Okada riders took care of their families with proceeds from the business.

“The stress is too much for us. At some point, I will also stop bike riding because it’s not sustainable. The stress is too much and some people collect so much from us under the guise of union.’’

In his account, a commercial motorcyclist, Aliu Adamu, told our correspondent that he resorted to riding motorcycles within Agege metropolis when the ban was enforced in Oshodi where he used to operate.

He said, “Before, I used to carry passengers from Oshodi to Agege but now I can’t do that anymore. I have moved to inner routes in Agege.  It’s not easy at all because the task force is not making things easy for us.’’

Residents hail decision

Some residents have however applauded the government’s move.

A civil servant in the state who lives in the Iyana Ipaja area, Jolade Lawal, said she was happy when the ban was initially announced in February.

Lawal decried what she termed the various atrocities caused by the riders across the state, saying it should extend the ban to all parts of the state.

She noted, “In fact, I was happy when I heard about the ban in February. Okada riders have caused a lot of havoc. About three months ago, I almost got knocked down by one on my way from work. Governor Sanwo-Olu should extend the ban to all areas in Lagos State.’’

A landlord in Igando area of the state, Jeremiah Pius, commended the government for adding more local government areas to the areas where Okada activities were restricted. He noted that commercial motorcycles had more negative sides than gains.

He said, “We have seen a lot of the damage done by the riders and many people can attest to it. We do not really need Okada to feature in the mega city drive of the state.”

Experts speak

Commenting on the issue, a transport expert, Adeniyi Shonibare, urged the enforcement team to engage in a routine compliance drive.

Shonibare said, “The ban has always been in operation but the enforcement has been the issue. If you notice the recent one in the four added local governments, the compliance will be high on the first and second day. The riders will be on the lookout to see what will happen but if they notice that the enforcement unit relaxes, then in five years’ time or thereabouts, they will continue to operate. Government has to put in place a series of alternatives. When you get people out of the road, you get them something to do. They need to be given better and safer options too.’’

He advised the state government to provide alternative means of living for the riders and not leave them to their fate.

Shonibare added, “The government can’t just stop them like that. It’s a risk considering the high rate of insecurity in the country. The task force has been doing the job well. Okada riders should acquire skill acquisition. It will be good for them. They need it because Okada riding is not something they can do for long. It is not sustainable. They can’t continue to ride Okada at old age.’’

 In his remarks, a lawyer, Kehinde Oshinowo, explained that while commercial motorcycle riders were banned from operation, the state government should also provide a better transportation system for the citizens of the state.

Oshinowo added, “It is in the absence of proper transportation schemes put in place by the government that we now have proliferation of motorcycles. It is rare in the urban areas to see motorcycles moving from one place to another. That can only be an acceptable means of faster movement from one rural area to another especially where the roads are not accessible to vehicular movements. It should not have been in the first place.

He further noted that the use of motorcycles shouldn’t have been the norm if a proper transportation system was in place, adding “You cannot have motorcycles running all over the length and breadth of the state. It would be inimical to the welfare and lives of the citizens and that is why I think the ban should have been done a long time ago or motorcycles shouldn’t have been allowed in the first place. The fault is with the government for not putting in place a proper and befitting mode of transportation system for the people of the state.”

Also, a Professor of Transport Management Technology at the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Imo State, Chukwudi Ibe, urged the riders to make efforts towards creating other sustainable businesses for themselves, stating that government had a lot of work to do on the transportation system in the state.

Ibe said, “In the first instance, the use of Okada riding is abnormal. It is a wrong process in an urban centre because the more we have them, the more congestions and problems we have. People may not see it but when we have congestions, we create health problems. People want to break even because of the harsh economic reality. They started using Okada as a means of transportation even in the urban centres which should not be.

“For riders dislodged from some areas in the state, I advise them to come together and combine their resources to buy a single bus. In that case, it will be less risky for them. Though motorcycles can glide through every corner of a state including bad roads, yet they are not a proper means of transportation. They can only be used as peripheral whereby people can use them from the beginning of their streets to their homes. That is where they are applicable even at that, they are not the most convenient way of travel but we use them in Nigeria. They are used to clear the gab for the collapse of public transportation. They should not be used.’’

Ibe added that two or three Okada riders could pull resources together to buy a bus and if able to manage the proceeds from it, within a year, they should buy another one after and  they can reach out to financial institutions for financial assistance to operate.

“The state government has something to do to the transportation scheme of the state. They can assist these people in getting buses. But the government cannot assist every Okada rider. That is what they don’t know. They should form a cooperative or group and they can attract money from the government. Okada riding is not the best way to solve our transportation problem because a good public transportation has to be efficient, developed and comfortable to people. Okada is risky and promotes criminality and should not be used in our society.”

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