• Sanwo-Olu maintains his stance on Okada ban.
• Several fierce protests have since followed his declaration
• According to him, the ban only affects ‘elitist’ areas, so he doesn’t understand the uproar.

Despite the unending protests and burning of cars, the Lagos state government maintains that there is no going back on the recent ban of commercial motorbikes

The ban placed on the motorcycles and tricycles by the Lagos state government has commenced.

Although, Lagosians especially the commercial motorcycle and tricycle users are yet to come to terms with that, given the non-stop protests.

Nevertheless, the Lagos State government has reiterated its stance on the ban and stated that it is irreversible.

Since the ban took effect, there have been a series of protests from different groups, fights, gunshots and death of at least five persons.

The ban affected six local government

However, some state government personnel say they cannot comprehend what the uproar over the ban has been all about.

Speaking about it, the Director of Social Media in the office of the State Governor, Deji Balogun says:

“The local government areas and council development areas affected by the ban are in Lagos central senatorial district, Lagos Mainland, Surulere, Apapa and Eti-Osa which encompasses VGC and all the other areas on the Island. These are so-called elitist areas.” 

Furthermore, he said, “The real population of Lagos is in Lagos West. And the only local government affected by the restriction in Lagos West is Ikeja.”

He added, “Lagos West represents comfortably 60 per cent of Lagos state in terms of landmass and population.”

In addition to that, he stated that “If you look at Alimosho, Agege, Oshodi, Isolo, Ajeromi Ifelodun, Ifako Ijaiye, that’s where the population is and they aren’t affected.“

Again he said, “Lagos East, which is a cultural area encompassing Ikorodu, Epe, Ibeju-Lekki etc, is not affected. One is beginning to wonder how 12 per cent.“

Moreover, he said, “The population of Lagos at the moment is 27 million.. how 12 per cent of the city is complaining the most. The people affected by this restriction are less than 4 million.

“If individual associations are banning the Okada and the state government is enforcing the restriction in just six local government areas, what is the hullabaloo about?” he asked.

Furthermore, he stated “In the next couple of days, I’m confident that apart from inter-modal transport, services would have increased.

“The blue line and red line would soon be completed,” he said

He continued saying “The blue line runs from Okokomaiko to Marina. Small buses that will be able to navigate the nooks and crannies will soon come in.”

“We just launched the Lagos state ferry services and rolled out brand new mass transit buses.“

He furthermore stated that “No responsible government will sit back and allow the large scale of insecurity and accidents perpetrated by the Okada to continue.

“Do you know that because of the economic drawback occasioned by their nefarious activities, you are not yet enjoying the best of mass transit?” he asked

“There is a bus intelligence system that is supposed to come with it. You are supposed to stand at the bus stop and be able to tell when the next Iyana Ipaja bus is coming“, he added