Banned commercial motorcyclists, tricycles in Lagos move to Ogun, others

The restriction and ban of commercial motorcycles (Okada) and tricycles (Keke Napep) in Lagos State with effect from February 1, 2020, may have sparked off insinuations that the nearest states, that is South-West states, will have to bear the brunt of this decision.

An eyewitness stated that there were trailer-load of motorcycles being taken out of Lagos.

Meanwhile, the Ogun State Commissioner for Environment, Abudu Balogun, who spoke on whether the state government has any measure in place in expectation of the influx of these commercial motorcyclists, said there was no intended action targeted at specific groups or persons.

He said the ministry and the new task force set up by Governor Dapo Abiodun would soon begin massive enforcement of the state’s environmental laws that are presently being breached by commercial motorcyclists.

According to him, others who breach the laws include Keke Napep operators, car dealers and abandoned vehicle owners.

The commissioner said that these set of people had taken over the road setbacks, medians, walkways, market areas and so on.

“They impede human/vehicular traffic movement as well as create avenues for criminal activities,” he said.

“Without a new migration of commercial motorcyclists, Ogun State, especially Abeokuta, is already filled with bike riders.

“They have overshadowed the taxis plying the metropolis and exhibit all kinds of bad vices ranging from over-speeding to lack of knowledge of the city and readiness to fight for insignificant reasons,” he said.

“Though, unlike Lagos with heavy population, bike activities should be a worrisome event to the state government.

The government must begin to think ahead of how to replace this ominous and dangerous means of transportation as obtained in saner climes,” he further said.