The
Lagos State Government has ordered commercial motorcycle operators
popularly known as okada riders out of the 475 restricted routes across
the state in a renewed attempt to check their excesses.
In
2012, the Lagos State Government banned okada riders from plying 475
roads in the metropolis, but in recent time, okada riders are fully back
on the restricted routes.
At a news conference in
Alausa, Lagos, southwest Nigeria, on Thursday, the government frowned at
the rate the riders are flouting the traffic law of the state, saying
that government would no longer fold its hands and allow the impunity to
continue.
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation, Oluseyi Coker said okada riders are
restricted from plying 475 roads out of the 9,100 roads in the
metropolis in accordance with the Road Traffic Law of Lagos State.
He
said due to the enforcement of the provisions of the 2012 Road Traffic
Law, the state witnessed over 81% reduction in the number of
motorcycle-related accidents reported in the state’s public health
institutions and over 80% reduction in motorcycle-related deaths
reported at public hospitals.
•Commercial motorcycle riders (Okada) in Lagos before their restriction.
He
added that okada-related deaths had been drastically reduced from 192
per year to a maximum of 6 per year, saying that “we have saved about
465 lives since October 2012 to date. We have also prevented an average
of 476 motorcycle-related injuries monthly and 5,712 yearly. By
implication, we have prevented a total of 14,220 motorcycle
accident-related injuries since 2012.”
Coker said more
recently, there were some months that the casualty rates were as low as
zero percent to the extent that the so-called ‘’Okada” wards at some of
the state’s public hospitals had become empty.
“However,
it is disheartening to see that motorcycle operators have resurfaced on
our restricted roads especially in areas such as Ikeja, Isolo, Apapa,
Agege, Epe, Ijede, Shomolu/ Bariga, Ifako Ijaiye/ Ojokoro, Ikorodu,
Mushin, Ketu, Ojota, Lagos Island, Ojodu and Badagry in spite of the
various efforts of the past administrations in the state to ensure that
the menace of motorcycle operators is curbed and the rate of accidents,
injuries and death is reduced drastically in the state.
“This
administration, being a responsive and responsible government committed
to the protection of lifes and property, safety of all Lagosians and
visitors alike will not fold its hands and allow indiscipline, flagrant
disobedience of law and order, loss of lives and property of innocent
citizens of the state to continue unabated.
“It is in
view of this that I call on the leaders of transport unions and
executives of various motorcycle operators (registered and
non-registered) to ensure that motorcycle operators strictly adhere to
the various laws regulating their operations as contained in Section 3
of the Road Traffic Law as well as desist from plying any of the 475
roads, including highways and bridges restricted for their operations
out of the 9, 200 roads in the state. The law on motorcycle operation in
the state is sacrosanct.
“Motorcycle operators should
please note that henceforth, anyone found to have violated the law shall
be dealt with in accordance with the Road Traffic Law, RTL 2012 Section
3 Subsection 5 which stipulates that “Any person who fails to comply
with any of the provisions of this Section commits an offence and shall
be liable on conviction to: imprisonment for a term of three (3) years
or render community service in accordance with the provisions of Section
347 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Lagos State and
have his vehicle forfeited to the state,” he stated.
He
said while the Lagos State Government is magnanimous enough not to have
outrightly banned motorcycle operations in the state like other states
in the federation but rather restricted its activities, the state would
not hesitate to deal decisively with any operator who violates thelLaw
in order to serve as deterrent to others.
“To those
operators who are fond of driving against traffic (one-way), especially
on Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway and Ikorodu road
amongst others, I implore you to desist from this dangerous and unlawful
act and make the safety of your lives, that of your passengers and
other road users to be paramount. Many lives that could contribute
meaningfully to the development of the state and that of our country
have been lost through this dangerous act.
“The law
enforcement agents in the state: the Nigeria Police, Vehicle Inspection
Service (VIS), Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and
Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) have been directed to henceforth
ensure full enforcement and zero tolerance.
“In as much
as motorcycle is not approved by the State Government as a means of
public transportation in the state, I implore Lagosians who are fond of
using motorcycle for moving from one place to the other to ensure that
they also comply with the law as your safety is our concern. I urge you
to cooperate with the State Government, avoid the use of motorcycle on
the restricted routes including bridges and highways and wear a standard
protective helmet whenever you are to board motorcycle,” he said.
“Above
all, do not hesitate to caution the riders whenever they want to flout
the law. Lawlessness and disregarding law and order must stop on our
roads and this is a collective responsibility of all to ensure that
sanity reigns on our roads,” he added.
No comments:
Post a Comment