The Lagos State Task Force is set to crush another set of 2,228 impounded commercial motorcycles, popularly known as okada, on Friday, June 3 (today).
The task force director for press and public affairs, Gbadeyan Abdulraheem, in a statement, said, “Following the announcement of a total ban on operation of commercial motorcycles, popularly known as okada, on all highways across six local government areas and nine local council development areas of the state by the Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Sanwo-Olu, the Chairman of the Lagos State Taskforce, CSP Shola Jejeloye, has said that the agency will on Friday, June 3, crush another set of 2,228 impounded motorcycles to further make the enforcement of the ban thorough and effective.
“The chairman stated that the laws are very clear for Okada operators to see that their actions are in complete violation of the transport reform laws of the state.”
Although, the Okada operators’ compliance rate to the recent ban is high and encouraging, they (operators) are still not to be trusted, according to Jejeloye.
He added, “Their style of operation is synonymous to guerrilla warfare – when we retreat, they advance, and when we advance, they retreat, but enforcement on the ban has come to stay.
“We will ensure not a single offender operating his okada on the highways will be spared.
“We will keep watch and continue patrolling the affected parts of the state to ensure they do not get back on our roads.”
During the first two days of the prohibition, he claimed, the agency impounded over 259 bikes, and arrested 18 suspected riders and passengers, The Punch reports.
“All the suspects will be prosecuted for violating the state laws. Passengers will not be spared this time around, and they will be charged accordingly in the court of law,” the statement added.
Comments