Okada Ban: Stranded Commuters Lament Total Ban On Okada In Lagos

Some Lagosians on Monday lamented the total ban on motorcycles (Okada Ban) in some Local Government Areas of Lagos State by the state government.

Newsbreak.ng reports that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had on May 18 announced a total ban on motorcycles otherwise known as okada in Ikeja, Surulere, Eti Osa, Lagos Mainland, Lagos Island and Apapa Local Government Areas.

The ban is to take effect from June 1, 2022.

This has led to unbearable hardships for most commuters who patronise Okada to beat the Lagos traffic when going and returning from work.

Newsbreak.ng visited some major bus stops in the state and spoke with some commuters.

‘Okada Ban Will Make Most Of Us Lose Our Jobs’

At Ogba bus stop, Newbreak.ng met a long queue of commuters waiting for buses and tricycles (Keke Marwa) to get to Allen, Ikeja and Opebi.

A lady who identified herself as Abidemi said she had already received a query at work because of lateness.

“This Okada ban is ill-thought of by Sanwo-Olu. Has he considered the traffic situation in Lagos State? I resume work by 8am and here I am at 7;20 still waiting for a bus to come. You can’t leave your house early like 5:30 so you don’t get mugged and killed. Now, we can’t get to work early too because one governor decided to ban Okada without thinking it through. I pray I don’t lose my job because many people will. I still got a query last week,” she lamented.

Another female commuter who didn’t want her name mentioned described the ban as a ‘knee-jerk’ reaction by the Lagos State Government.

She said, “We are a bunch of jokers in this country. The government chased Gokada and the likes away.  Now, government has banned okada in Lagos. How do they want us to get to work and return? This is just all shades of wrong.”

For Mr Akpan Nonso, the only thing government knows how to do is make the life of the people more difficult.

He said, “My brother, we don’t have a government in this country. If we do, they will make our lives easier and not more difficult. How do they expect people to beat the Lagos traffic daily? Two, what will be the source of income for those okada riders? How will they survive in these hard times when there are no jobs out there?”

Ban Will Increase Crime Rate In Lagos

For some commuters who spoke with Newsbreak.ng, the ban will only increase the crime rate in Lagos state.

Mr Onifade (Not real name) said he lives in the Giwa area of Oke-Aro and needs to be at work by 8am. However, leaving early is not an option because the crime rate is very high in that part. So, I step out of the house by 6:30, take a bike to Ishaga and another bike to Ogba here. From here, I take a bike to Allen and take N100 Keke to Opebi. By 7;30, I am at work. Now, it is different and what this means is that the crime rate will increase. People will do anything to feed.

According to another commuter, Kehinde, Lagos is not safe and putting people out of earning a legit income will make them criminals.

‘I stay at Olaniyi and I know how people get robbed in the morning or late at night. Now, the crime rate will increase especially with the Abokis who are mostly okada riders. People should just be more vigilante these days,” he advised.