Ambode To Completely Ban Okada From Lagos State.

The Lagos state Governor Mr Akinwunmi Ambode has proposed a complete ban on commercial motorcycle operations popularly called Okada in all roads in Lagos state.

Mr Ambode made this known on the heels of the recent tribal clash in Agiliti Ketu-Mile 12 in Lagos last week where the origin of the fight was traced to the activities of Okada in the area. According to eye witness revelation at the scene of the incident in Mile 12, trouble started when an Okada rider hit a Yoruba woman and the Hausa okada man was believed to have blatantly refused to treat or take care of the victim claiming the Association who collects rates from them daily should treat the injured woman. The ensued fight was reported to have claimed at least ten lives and properties lost among Hausas and Yorubas which led to the closure of the popular market and some streets around the area to avoid reprisal attack.

The Governor who was reported to have said he will approach the State House of Assembly to amend the law on restrictions of okada to certain roads and area of the street to total ban of the operators on all roads in the state. The state already has a law which restricts Okada in 492 out of about 9200 roads in the metropolis by the last administration of Governor Babatunde Fashola in 2012.= through the Lagos state traffic law 2012 in an effort to reduce the menace of the operators in the past.

Mr Akinwunmi Ambode is seriously considering this new law because he feels that a mega city like Lagos cannot continue to keep okada operations noting that Lagos economy and the transport sector cannot be driven by commercial motorcycles operators in a big city like Lagos which is adjudged to be one of the fastest growing city in the word.