• Lagos State bans the use of commercial motorcycle and tricycles in some parts of Lagos
• The full enforcement will begin from 1 February 2020
• Local Government Areas that were affected include, Apapa, Ikeja, Eti Osa, Surulere, among others.

The Governor of Lagos state, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu has approved the banning of Okada and Keke NAPEP in Lagos. Lagos State information and strategy commissioner Gbenga Omotosho made the announcement at a press conference.

He said, “after consultations with stakeholders, the State Security Council, in compliance with the extant Transport Sector Reform Law 2018, has decided to commence enforcement of the law which bans the operation of Motorcycles (Okada) and Tricycles (Keke Napep) in the following Local Governments (LGs) and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs),”

“Apapa LG and Apapa Iganmu LCDA, Lagos Mainland LG and Yaba LCDA, Surulere LG, Itire-Ikate and Coker-Aguda LCDAs, Ikeja LG, Onigbongbo and Ojodu LCDAs, Eti-Osa LG, Ikoyi-Obalende and Iru/Victoria Island LCDAs, Lagos Island LG and Lagos Island East LCDA.

“The full enforcement begins on February one 2020”, he added.

Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Lagos State Governor on New Media, Jubril A. Gawat, took to Twitter to share a clip of the announcement.

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BREAKING NEWS: The Lagos State Government has banned the activities of Commercial Motorcycles (Okada) & Tricycles (Keke) in some LGAs in the State: Apapa, L/Mainland, Surulere, Eti Osa, L/Island, Ikeja effective from Feb 1, 2020. #ForAGreaterLagos @Riddwane @gbenga_omo pic.twitter.com/A79VP0p6dH

— Jubril A. Gawat (@Mr_JAGs) January 27, 2020

Why were they banned?

The activities of Okada men is known to be very prevalent across Nigeria especially in very busy states of which Lagos State is one.

The state government had accused the Okada of increased crime rate in a city where traffic congestion slows vehicular movement.

You would recall that just a week ago, the Okado were banned from plying bridges but now they have been fully banned from some parts of the city.

According to the Commissioner for transportation, Frederic Oladeinde, The commercial motorbike has been banned from plying the following areas: Apapa, Eti Osa, Lagos Mainland, Lagos Island, Surulere, and Ikeja.

For those wondering what possible alternative would there be for transportation, the Lagos state government says special buses will hit the roads as alternatives in the affected areas.

According to the new media aide to the governor, Jubril Gawat who stated that “The first thing is that transportation has to be safe and those areas will be adequately covered”.

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