PDP sympathises with Lagosians on ban of Okada operation

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed sympathy with Nigerians living and working in Lagos for what it called “the excruciating ordeal they are facing following the ban of commercial motorcycles and tricycles (Keke Marwa) in the state.”

The party, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, however, noted that the ordeal should be blamed on President Muhammadu Buhari who, it claimed, had “in 1985 terminated the initial Lagos Metro Rail line project started by the government of Alhaji Lateef Jakande to facilitate mass transportation within Lagos, as Nigeria’s commercial nerve centre, and surrounding cities.”

The PDP stated that had Buhari not terminated that laudable project by the Lagos State government, Lagosians would not have been suffering the transportation infrastructure deficit they are faced with today.

“By now, Lagos State would have been boasting of state-of-the-art transportation infrastructure and facilities with associated economic boom like her peers in other parts of the world.

“It is saddening to note that not only did the termination of the initial metro line slow down and almost crippled development in Lagos, President Buhari’s current administration has also continued to fail to take conclusive step to address the transportation challenges in Lagos despite outcries by Nigerians.”

The PDP, which advised Lagos State government to immediately adopt alternatives to ease the suffering of the people as their welfare ought to be its primary focus of governance, said the Federal Government should apologise to Lagos State for terminating its metro rail line and take urgent steps to address the transport situation of the state.