Don’t reverse ban on Okada, Sagay counsels Sanwo-Olu

By Sylvanus Okpe

The Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), on Tuesday, advised Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State not to reverse the ban on commercial motorcycles (Okada) and tricycles (Keke) which came into force Friday last week.

He, however, regretted the failure of thd state government to put measures in place to mitigate the pains of the masses that depend on these as their mode of transportation before the enforcement of the ban.

While faulting the timing, Sagay said the state government should have first cleared the buses which are still lying at the ports, put them on the roads before the announcement on the restrictions was made.

Sagay who lives and has his office in Lagos said though painful, the state government must have taken the decision in the interest of Lagosians as the Okada riders have constituted themselves to menace to other road users.

He said the state government must have considered the security of the state before embarking on the decision based on the nefarious activities of the Okada riders.

“The ban is right on principle. Lagos state government is not telling us everything. I always say that the government knows more than we do. It is not every information available to them they will reveal to members of the public. Lagos state government must have seen some danger signals which makes them act before it is too late. That is my impression on the ban”.

“But I blame them that they did not take little more time to prepare for the consequences. Now they are saying that they have about 600 buses at the ports, they should have cleared those buses first before initiating the ban”.

“ They are a government body, they can accelerate the clearance of the buses within a week, put them on the roads and then go ahead with what they want to do”.

“I support the ban on principle. Apart from what I do not know and I am sure it has to do with the security of Lagos state people. Apart from that, those Okada people are a threat to our existence. They don’t obey any law, they cross red lights”.

“On many occasions, I have had cause to complain to the Commissioner for Transport that Okada riders confront me every time on Eko bridge when I am going home. They are so indiscipline, dangerous and reckless in terms of the injuries and pain they cause”.

“They are riding against the traffic, threatening those of us who have the right of way. We have to move aside for them to rush through. As they are doing it, that encourages yellow buses (Danfo) and they too will join them in going against traffic”.

“Right now on Eko bridge, there is no division between the road that takes you into Lagos and the one that takes you out. They are using it as they like and it is so dangerous to other road users”.

“So, I think the ban is a good idea. Let us clear it and remove that danger from our existence. Maybe the timing was a bit abrupt, maybe they should have brought in alternative vehicles to cushion the effect but as far as I am concerned, there should be no going back.

“They should now rush to provide the alternative buses to cushion the pains of the people” Sagay advised.