By Moses Omorogieva

The Lagos State Government on Wednesday urged commercial motorcyclists, popularly called Okada, plying prohibited roads in the state to desist from such routes.

CSP Shola Jejeloye, Chairman, Lagos State Environmental Sanitation and Special Offences Unit (Task Force) told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) the ban on such routes was still in force.

Jejeloye said that the withdrawal of security agents from such routes due to the ongoing general elections does not allow commercial motorcyclists to return to such routes.

He said that the return of commercial motorcyclists had compounded the arrangement for free flow of traffic on such routes.

NAN observed that Okada riders carried two passengers from Ikorodu to Ojota while some run against traffic from Mile-12, Ketu to Ojota.

In May, 2022, Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu had announced ban on the activities of commercial motorcycles in six local government areas beginning from June 1.

The local governments are Ikeja, Surulere, Etiosa, Lagos Island, Mainland and Apapa.

The governor later included four additional local government areas, which are Kosofe, Oshodi-Isolo, Shomolu and Mushin, bringing the total to 10 council areas.

He said that the decision was due to disobedience to traffic regulations and increase in robbery by the use of motorcycles.

Sanwo-Olu said the government took the decision in line with the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law of 2018.

Jejeloye said: “The order banning them is still in force. Our men are not on ground, they are on election duties.

“For now, we have a lot in our hands but it behold on the offenders to obey the laid down rules,” he said.

He said that there had been reports of reckless plying of the routes by commercial motorcyclists, adding that some run against traffic thereby causing an accident. (NAN)