The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi on Monday said the Lagos state government might witness an upsurge in unemployment and an increase in crime following its ban of Okada and tricycles in some parts of the State.
“He (Lagos State governor) has a problem to face,” Amaechi said on Channels TV’s Sunrise daily. “I am sure he must have addressed it in his mind before he took that decision that is unemployment and an increase in crime. All those Okada riders and tricycle riders have provided for themselves a means of livelihood. “If you ban it and there are no alternatives, the chances that some of them might go into crime,” Amaechi said.
Amaechi, however, noted that as a former governor of Rivers State, he saw reasons why the State’s government made the decision. “Speaking as a former Governor, when I was in Rivers State, they were using motorcycles to rob and kidnap people; and the police could never get them because they were using cars; so I banned motorcycles and we had peace,” Amaechi said.
“The number of accidents was also high – the orthopedic hospital was full every day and they didn’t care.” He said the government’s decision to ban Okada and tricycle was in the interests of “a majority of Lagosians.” The minister said it is not the “responsibility” of the Federal Government to intervene in the Lagos state ban of Okada and tricycle in the state. “So you can’t be telling a state whether they want Okada or tricycles or not. “That’s not our responsibility,” Amaechi said
Many residents in the state are lamenting the decision of the Lagos State government to restrict motorcycles (Okada) and tricycle from plying major highways and some roads in six local government areas of the state. Many said the government should have provided viable alternatives before the restriction came into effect on February 1.
Amaechi’s comments came after Femi Adeniyi, Chairman, Ogun Caretaker Committee on Transportation, called for caution as Okada riders were reported to be moving into Ogun from Lagos, due to the ban of commercial motorcycles by the Lagos Government. Adeniyi sounded the warning during a news conference in Abeokuta on Monday. He explained that the state government noticed the influx of the Okada riders into the state particularly in neighboring towns to Lagos such as Alagbole Akute, Ojodu Berger, Mowe, Ibafo, Sagamu, Ijebu Ode, Ota and Sango.
Adeniyi pleaded with citizens to be law abiding and very accommodating, saying it was important to tread with caution concerning the influx. The Chairman who noted it was a welcome development stated that the influx of motorcycle riders in the state would be a means for government to generate more revenue. “They will pay their dues to the government; at the same time we need to let our people understand that it will be bad if these people are resisted. “This will not be in consonance with freedom of movement as enshrined in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said.
Adeniyi appealed to the new Okada riders to work harmoniously with people they met on ground and to ensure they always carried out their obligations as well as work within the ambit of the law. He warned that whosoever was found misbehaving would face the wrath of the law. “We have a peaceful Ogun state and we won’t allow hooligans to take advantage because of this influx of people,” Adeniyi said.
