Lagos State Taskforce has taken decisive action against the operation of commercial motorcycles, commonly known as okada, impounding a total of 344 bikes during a week-long raid across various areas of the state.
The agency, led by Chairman CSP Shola Jejeloye, is determined to bring an end to the activities of recalcitrant okada operators, citing safety concerns for commuters along certain highways.
According to the Director of Press & Public Affairs, Gbadeyan Abdulraheem, the week-long exercise targeted specific zones, resulting in the confiscation of 174 bikes in the Abule Ado axis, 50 in Lagos Island, 50 in Berger/Grammar School, and 70 in the Abule Egba axis.
Jejeloye emphasised the agency’s commitment to enforcing the ban on okada operations along selected routes and in various Local Governments in Lagos.
Jejeloye articulated, “The Lagos State Taskforce has vowed to bring the operations of recalcitrant okada operators in the state to a complete halt as it carries out a week-long raid across various parts of the metropolis.
“The week-long exercise was anchored by the Chairman of the Agency, CSP Shola Jejeloye who vowed to cripple the activities of okada operators. He disclosed that their activities along some highways in the state have continually put the life of commuters along the axis in harm’s way.”
“We have taken it upon ourselves to end okada operations in the state and we are putting all mechanisms in place to ensure we achieve this goal.
“There is a ban on their activities along selected routes and Local Governments in Lagos, therefore they should not be allowed to operate as they please.
“It is our resolve in Y2024 to ensure that the terminal end of every enforcement is the court. Therefore, the fixed mindset of all environmental and traffic violators who think they can get away with every infraction through “man knows man” or godfatherism will not be tolerated. Enough is enough.”
The Chairman also issued a stern warning to security officials in uniform, stressing that any uniformed personnel caught using motorcycles for commercial purposes would face severe consequences.
“There will be no sacred cows in the enforcement of okada operations in the state therefore any uniform man caught conveying passengers on a bike for commercial purposes will be thoroughly dealt with. We should be the ones setting the right examples not breaking them. It will no longer be business as usual”. Jejeloye stated.
He urged Lagosians to refrain from patronizing okada operators, emphasizing the need to make roads safe, hazard-free, and easily navigable for all.
“There will be no sacred cows in the enforcement of okada operations in the state; any uniformed individual conveying passengers on a bike will be thoroughly dealt with,” Jejeloye affirmed.
This latest crackdown follows the Lagos State Government’s ban on commercial motorcycles on major highways, with a previous instance in November witnessing the destruction of 1,500 seized motorcycles on the premises of the Lagos State Task Force in Oshodi.
