Two people have been reportedly shot by Police on Monday at a protest over the ban of motorcycles and Tricycles operations in Lagos State.
The State government had last week announced the ban on commercial motorcyclists and tricyclists in certain areas of the state in the bid to reduce the rate of road accidents in the state which have been attributed to the activities of commercial motorcycle and tricycle operators.
However, the proscription of their operations led to a protest on Monday morning around Ijora area of the State.
The Protesting riders insisted on going about their business despite the ban which kickoffs on Saturday.
A yet to be identified man and a woman have been reportedly shot by the police who were trying to disperse the protesters.
Other business activities at the area have also been shut down due to the protest.
The Reason for the Ban
While explaining the reason for its decision, the Lagos State Government, through its Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotosho said the proscription was in response to scary figures of fatal accidents recorded from the operations of tricycle and motorcycle operators in the State between 2016 and 2019.
“After a robust assessment of the debate on what has been widely referred to as the motorcycle and tricycle menace, the Lagos State Government and the State Security Council have decided that the security and safety of lives of Lagosians are paramount.
“The figures are scary. From 2016 to 2019, there were over 10,000 accidents recorded at the general hospitals alone. This number excludes unreported cases and those recorded by other hospitals. The total number of deaths from reported cases is over 600 as of today.
“Also, the rate of crimes aided by okada and Keke NAPEP keeps rising. They are also used as getaway by criminals. Therefore, after consultations with stakeholders, the State Security Council, in compliance with the extant Transport Sector Reform Law 2018, has decided to commence enforcement of the law which bans the operation of okada and keke in six local governments and nine local council development areas.”
According to the Lagos State Government, the proscribed areas are Apapa LGA, Apapa Iganmu LCDA, Lagos Mainland LGA, Yaba LCDA, Surulere LGA, Itire-Ikate LCDA, and Coker-Aguda LCDA.
Others are Ikeja LGA, Onigbongbo LCDA, Ojodu LCDA, Eti-Osa LGA, Ikoyi-Obalende LCDA, Iru-Victoria Island LCDA, Lagos Island LGA and Lagos Island East LCDA.
Moses(Sanwo Olu): Israelites(Lagosians) Will you leave Pharaoh(Ambode) and follow me to the land of milk and honey
Lagosians: pic.twitter.com/9WFrKjiWNh
— 👑 OLUWAFIFUNMI 🎨🇳🇬 (@FifunmiRexx) February 3, 2020
The restricted highways are Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Oworonshoki-Oshodi Expressway, Lagos-Ikorodu Expressway, Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, Eti-Osa/Lekki-Epe Expressway, Lagos-Badagry Expressway, Funsho Williams Avenue, Agege Motor Road, and Eti-Osa Lekki Coastal Road.
The bridges are Iyana-Ipaja Bridge, Agege; Dopemu Bridge, Agege; Airport/Ikeja Bridge; Agege Motor Road/Oshodi Loop, Oshodi; Mushin/Isolo Link Bridge; Dorman Long Bridge; Ojuelegba Bridge; National Stadium Flyover; Apapa-Iganmu Bridge; Apapa-Ijora Link Bridge; Liverpool Bridge, Apapa; Mile 2 Bridge-Loop, Amuwo-Odofin; Okota (Cele)/Ijesha Link Bridge; Apakun/Apapa-Oshodi Bridge Network; Ikorodu Road/Anthony Clover Leaf Bridge.
This is the crowd waiting for obalende/tbs bus. #OkadaBan pic.twitter.com/8mS5inTmKQ
— Adaeze_love (@LoveRaphael4) February 3, 2020
Others are Trade Fair Flyover Bridge, Festac/Amuwo-Odofin Link Bridge, 2 Flyover Bridges along Alhaji Masha Road, Ojota Clover Leaf Bridge, Ogudu Bridge, Third Mainland Bridge, Maryland flyover, Ikeja General Hospital Flyover Bridge, Kodesoh Bridge, Oba Akran, Ikeja; Opebi Link Bridge; Sheraton-Opebi Bridge; Jibowu/Yaba flyover Bridge; Carter Bridge, Lagos; Bariga-Ifako Bridge; Apapa-Oshodi Expressway/Alapere Bridge; Bariga/Oworonsoki Bridge; Apapa-Oshodi Expressway/Gbagada U-Turn; Apapa-Oshodi Expressway; Third Mainland/ Oworonsoki Bridge; Eko Bridge; Apongbon flyover Bridge; Cowry Bridge (Officers Mess); Mcwen Bridge (Bonny Camp); Marina/Ikoyi Bridge and Ikoyi/Obalende Bridge.
Counting Losses and Attendant Issues
The proscription of commercial motorcycle and Tricycle operations in Lagos has had many residents lamenting not only its untold hardship on commuters but operators like Metro Africa Xpresss and other motorcycle ride-hailing services are counting their losses.
In an interview with Punch Newspaper, Adetayo Bamiduro, Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of MAX (Metro Africa Xpress) said the company’s business will be badly hit by the ban saying close to 80 percent of its income will be lost due to the restrictions.
“The areas where the ban has been promulgated are the most important areas for this business in Lagos because those areas constitute the commercial nerve centres of the state.
“So, if a driver is completely restricted from operating there, in that case, we estimate that the incomes of the drivers will reduce. At least, they will lose close to 80 per cent of their income due to this restriction. It, therefore, means that this is quite a serious ban.
The Alternatives
The Lagos State Government is, however, promising to add about 65 buses that will join the others on some major routes as from Monday, February 3, 2020.
With the Lagos #OkadaBan, we appear, as usual, to have gone for the option that involved the least thought & planning from a public policy perspective. If you are introducing 65 buses & 14 new ferries from tomorrow, introduce them first and watch it work before announcing a ban.
— Dr. Joe Abah (@DrJoeAbah) February 3, 2020
It said “No less than 550 more buses are being expected. Besides, 14 ferries will also be commissioned on Tuesday.” A statement on the Twitter page of Lagos State government read.
It also said “this will further open up the waterways, reduce travel time on various routes and provide safe, dependable and comfortable alternatives for commuters.
“The government is not unaware that enforcing this directive may lead to some job losses. The Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, plans to announce some measures to tackle the likely effects of the order.
“Besides the programmes of various agencies, such as the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Office of Civic Engagement, Lagos State Parks and Gardens and others.”
