The clampdown on commercial motorcyclists, popularly known as Okada, occasioned by their restriction on 475 routes in the Lagos metropolis yesterday got the backing of Chairmen of the 20 Local Governments Areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas, LCDA, of Lagos State.
Speaking at a news conference held in Bariga LCDA, the chairmen, under the aegis of Conference 57, said the councils fully supported Governor Babatunde Fashola in the matter and would strive to ensure the success of the restriction.
The Chairman, Conference 57, Akeem Sulaiman lamented that the restriction on okada riders had been attended to by myriad of misunderstanding by some quarters.
According to him, “Giving the security challenges in contemporary Nigeria, it I’d not out of place for any serious government to take measure that will entrench a sense of security in the people. Of the 30 armed robbery cases recorded in Lagos State between July and October 2012, 22 are motorcycles and tricycles related.
“By interpolation, this means that 73 percent of armed robbery cases in Lagos State involve motorcycles and tricycles. No sane government or people can sit back, watch and maintain a criminal silence over this menace to the society”.
Lamenting the havocs wreaked by the operators, he said the state had recorded 619 avoidable accidents involving okada on Lagos roads, saying that out of this, the death number totaled 107 while 512 others sustained injuries of varying degrees.
“From January 2012 to date, 63 people have been killed while 59 others sustained injuries by the same cause. This dreadful statistics cannot be allowed to stand. Consequently, the receent action by the state government to curtail this ugly trends is welcomed and should be embraced by all,” he said.
He argued that if some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) states had banned okada riding, people should not criticise the Lagos state government for taking similar action.
“We are in full support of the government’s action in respect of the subject matter and hereby call on the Association of Commercial Motorcycle operators in Lagos State to cooperate with the government and not allow themselves to be ill-advised and misguided by disgruntled elements disguising as their friends,” he said.