Sanwo-Olu: Okada Ban To Become Fully Effective Next Week

…To Launch Last Mile Buses Replacing Motorcycles

The first 500 of the 5,000 last mile buses proposed to replace
okadas will be launched next week, Lagos State Governor Bababjide
Sanwo-Olu said Monday.

He spoke at the stakeholders’ meeting on security held at the
Adeyemi Bero auditorium in Alausa, Ikeja.

According to the governor, clamping down on okada was part of
measures to ensure security of life and property of residents.

There have been outcries against the okada menace, especially
the lawlessness of riders and tendency to commit crime with the
motorcycle.

He said: “Nigeria’s ability to reach its full economic potential
will be severely constrained in the absence of guaranteed security
of lives and property in Lagos. In recent times, we have recorded a
worrying trend of nefarious activities in the state; from
kidnappings, armed robbery, cult clashes and violent assaults. We
have tried, as a state, to respond in real time to the majority of
these challenges by deploying a range of tactics from
force-for-force, to carrot-and-stick to diplomacy.

“To advance our interests and objectives as a state, in the
context of security, is to ensure that we contain and arrest every
form of aggression and crime that threatens the development,
progress and growth of the state; and by so doing improve upon the
welfare and quality of life of the people.

“For us in Lagos State, there is a direct correlation between
security and long-lasting economic growth and development. We
cannot speak of a 21st century megacity and the vision of a Greater
Lagos if we are unable to assure and guarantee the security of our
citizens and their properties.

“The resultant effect of the #ENDSARS mayhem has contributed in
no small way to the severely fragmented security architecture that
we have today. We have risen to the arduous challenge of arresting
this general state of insecurity with all the resources we have at
hand. Over the last couple of weeks and months, we have instituted
a number of measures designed to curb activities that engender
insecurity, all with a view to secure our state.

“We have noted with dismay the fact that okada riders disregard
and flout the restrictions imposed on their activities in certain
areas of the metropolis. We have also observed the ongoing war
between commercial motorcyclists and law enforcement agencies.

“This propensity for lawlessness is not who we are as Lagosians.
The Lagos State Road Traffic Law, enacted in 2012 to safeguard the
lives of people and to maintain law and order on our roads, is the
legal backbone for the restrictions put in place early last year
and designed to curb the okada menace.

“We banned the activities of okada and tricycle operators on key
roads, highways and local government areas but, sadly, many have
continued to disobey the law and, in some cases, resist enforcement
by engaging in organised attacks on law enforcement agencies.

“Our mission of attaining a Greater Lagos can only be achieved
when we all resolve to live in an orderly manner. Consequently, and
based on all that we have seen and experienced in the past couple
of weeks, as well as the increasing threats posed by the activities
of commercial motorcycle operators to the safety and security of
lives, we will be announcing further changes to the parameters of
motorcycle and tricycle operations in the state.

“We are also excited to announce that next week, we will be
launching the ‘Last Mile Buses’ that will ply inner roads and
safely get passengers to their final destinations. We envisage that
this initiative will also generate employment opportunities for
Lagosians, including the commercial motorcyclists who will be
employed as operators of the Last Mile Buses.”

The governor added that the Lagos State Residents Card will also
be relaunched soon to ensure the database of residents is kept up
to-date. “This database will form a critical part of our security
architecture, as it will ensure that we know who is who, at any
point in time,” he noted.

…To Launch Last Mile Buses Replacing Motorcycles

The first 500 of the 5,000 last mile buses proposed to replace
okadas will be launched next week, Lagos State Governor Bababjide
Sanwo-Olu said Monday.

He spoke at the stakeholders’ meeting on security held at the
Adeyemi Bero auditorium in Alausa, Ikeja.

According to the governor, clamping down on okada was part of
measures to ensure security of life and property of residents.

There have been outcries against the okada menace, especially
the lawlessness of riders and tendency to commit crime with the
motorcycle.

He said: “Nigeria’s ability to reach its full economic potential
will be severely constrained in the absence of guaranteed security
of lives and property in Lagos. In recent times, we have recorded a
worrying trend of nefarious activities in the state; from
kidnappings, armed robbery, cult clashes and violent assaults. We
have tried, as a state, to respond in real time to the majority of
these challenges by deploying a range of tactics from
force-for-force, to carrot-and-stick to diplomacy.

“To advance our interests and objectives as a state, in the
context of security, is to ensure that we contain and arrest every
form of aggression and crime that threatens the development,
progress and growth of the state; and by so doing improve upon the
welfare and quality of life of the people.

“For us in Lagos State, there is a direct correlation between
security and long-lasting economic growth and development. We
cannot speak of a 21st century megacity and the vision of a Greater
Lagos if we are unable to assure and guarantee the security of our
citizens and their properties.

“The resultant effect of the #ENDSARS mayhem has contributed in
no small way to the severely fragmented security architecture that
we have today. We have risen to the arduous challenge of arresting
this general state of insecurity with all the resources we have at
hand. Over the last couple of weeks and months, we have instituted
a number of measures designed to curb activities that engender
insecurity, all with a view to secure our state.

“We have noted with dismay the fact that okada riders disregard
and flout the restrictions imposed on their activities in certain
areas of the metropolis. We have also observed the ongoing war
between commercial motorcyclists and law enforcement agencies.

“This propensity for lawlessness is not who we are as Lagosians.
The Lagos State Road Traffic Law, enacted in 2012 to safeguard the
lives of people and to maintain law and order on our roads, is the
legal backbone for the restrictions put in place early last year
and designed to curb the okada menace.

“We banned the activities of okada and tricycle operators on key
roads, highways and local government areas but, sadly, many have
continued to disobey the law and, in some cases, resist enforcement
by engaging in organised attacks on law enforcement agencies.

“Our mission of attaining a Greater Lagos can only be achieved
when we all resolve to live in an orderly manner. Consequently, and
based on all that we have seen and experienced in the past couple
of weeks, as well as the increasing threats posed by the activities
of commercial motorcycle operators to the safety and security of
lives, we will be announcing further changes to the parameters of
motorcycle and tricycle operations in the state.

“We are also excited to announce that next week, we will be
launching the ‘Last Mile Buses’ that will ply inner roads and
safely get passengers to their final destinations. We envisage that
this initiative will also generate employment opportunities for
Lagosians, including the commercial motorcyclists who will be
employed as operators of the Last Mile Buses.”

The governor added that the Lagos State Residents Card will also
be relaunched soon to ensure the database of residents is kept up
to-date. “This database will form a critical part of our security
architecture, as it will ensure that we know who is who, at any
point in time,” he noted.