Okadaban: School pupil killed as police and okada riders clash in Iyana-Ipaja

AgegePulse Magazine

 Another family has been thrown into mourning in Lagos as their little child has become the latest victim of the ban on Okada in Lagos.

 The pupil, a girl, was killed after being hit by a stray bullet during a clash by police and Okada riders in the Iyana-Ipaja area of the state.

 According to Sahara Reporters, policemen trying to disperse the protest, fired bullets in the crowd, hitting and killing the little girl in the process.

Sahara Reporters

Okada, Keke ban: Lagos council records total compliance

By Agencies - February 1, 2020

As the much-awaited enforcement of Lagos State Traffic Rule kicked off Saturday total compliance was noticed in  Ikorodu especially at Ikorodu Roundabout, Benson Bus-stop and Sagamu Road as commercial motorcycles popularly called ‘Okada Rider’ and tricycles popularly called ‘Keke NAPEP’ or ‘Keke Marwa’ kept off the axis.

Same applies to Agric bus-stop, Ogolonto and Ipakodo where activities of Okada and Keke NAPEP were not noticed.

This was in compliance with the state government restriction order on their activities with effect from February 1st, 2020.

It was observed that Ikorodu/Mile 12 Road which used to be a hub of such activities was completely free of ‘Okada‘ and ‘Keke NAPEP’.

Ketu/Ojota axis of Ikorodu Road was not left out as the axis was free from such activities.

However, partial compliance was noticed at Oregun Road as some commercial motorcycles and tricycles plying Oregun/Alausa and Ikeja were seen on queue picking passengers.

In Ogba, Akilo, Acme Roads, Ojodu Berger recorded a total compliance.



AgegePulse learnt that the riders were being aided by some Area Boys who stood at strategic positions to monitor law enforcement agents and divulge information to the erring riders.

As the enforcement exercise was ongoing, many commuters were stranded at various bus-stops especially in areas which depend solely on commercial motorcycles and tricycles for mobility.

At Majidun/Ogolonto, the compliance was not totally observed by some uniform men who were plying the roads on motorcycles without wearing helmets while the motorcycles were less than 200 capacity as stipulated by the state government.

The exercise almost resulted into chaos on Oregun Road as some Area Boys launched an attack on the enforcement team but they were overpowered as the team was reinforced and three commercial motorcycles were impounded and the riders arrested.

The development brought mixed feelings among the commuters as some praised the exercise while others urged the state government to improve on it.

Culled from Vanguard

Breaking: LASG Announces Okada/Tricyle Ban in Six Local Government Areas ...Enforcement Begins February 1, 2020

AgegePulse Magazine

After a robust assessment of the debate on what has been widely referred to as the Motorcycle (Okada) and Tricycle (Keke) 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 at date.

The rate of crimes aided by Motorcycles (Okada) and Tricycles (Keke) keeps rising.  Motorcycles (Okada) and Tricycles (Keke) are also used as getaway means 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 Motorcycles (Okada) and Tricycles (Keke) in the following Local Governments (LGs) and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs):

 Apapa LG and Apapa Iganmu LCDA
 Lagos Mainland LG and Yaba LCDA
 Surulere LG, Itire-Ikate and Coker-Aguda LCDAs
 Ikeja LG, Onigbongbo and Ojodu LCDAs
 Eti-Osa LG, Ikoyi-Obalende and Iru/Victoria Island LCDAs
 Lagos Island LG and Lagos Island East LCDA

The full enforcement begins on February 1, 2020.
This is the first stage of the State Government’s plan to sanitize our roads and protect Lagosians from the negative effects of these illegal modes of transportation.

The Law is very clear.  Motorcycles (Okada) and Tricycles (Keke) are banned on all highways, bridges and the listed roads.
Major Highways

1. Lagos-Ibadan Expressway
2. Apapa-Oshodi Expressway
3. Oworonshoki-Oshodi Expressway
4. Lagos-Ikorodu Expressway
5. Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway
6. Third Mainland Bridge
7. Eti-Osa/Lekki-Epe Expressway
8. Lagos-Badagry Expressway
9. Funsho Williams Avenue
10. Agege Motor Road
11. Eti-Osa Lekki Coastal Road

Bridges

1. Iyana- Ipaja Bridge Agege
2. Dopemu Bridge Agege
3. Airport/Ikeja Bridge
4. Agege Motor road/oshodi Loop, Oshodi
5. Mushin/Isolo Link Bridge
6. Dorman Long Bridge
7. Ojuelegba Bridge
8. National Stadium Flyover
9. Apapa-Iganmu Bridge
10. Apapa-Ijora Link Bridge
11. Liverpool Bridge, Apapa
12. Mile 2 Bridge-Loop, Amuwo-Odofin
13. Okota (cele)/Ijesha Link Bridge
14. Apakun/Apapa-Oshodi Bridge Network
15. Ikorodu Road/Anthony Clover leaf Bridge
16. Trade Fair Flyover Bridge
17. Trade Fair Flyover Bridge
18. Festac/Amuwo-Odofin Link Bridge
19. 2 Flyover Bridges along Alhaji Masha Road
20. Ojota Clover leaf Bridge
21. Ogudu Bridge
22. 3rd Mainland Bridge
23. Maryland flyover
24. Ikeja General Hospital Flyover Bridge
25. Kodesoh Bridge, Oba Akran, Ikeja
26. Opebi Link Bridge
27. Sheraton-Opebi Bridge
28. Jibowu/Yaba flyover Bridge
29. Carter Bridge, Lagos
30. Bariga-Ifako Bridge
31. Apapa-Oshodi Expressway/Alapere Bridge
32. Bariga/Oworonsoki Bridge
33. Apapa-Oshodi Expressway/Gbagada U-Turn
34. Apapa-Oshodi Expressway/3rd Mainland Bridge
35. 3rd Mainland/Oworonsoki Bridge
36. Eko Bridge
37. Apongbon flyover Bridge
38. Cowry Bridge (Officers Mess)
39. Mcwen Bridge (Bonny Camp)
40. Marina/Ikoyi Bridge
41. Ikoyi/Obalende Bridge
Law enforcement agents have been directed that with effect from February 1, 2020, there will be Zero Tolerance for Motorcycles (Okada) and Tricycles (Keke) in (on) the listed Local Governments, highways and bridges.   Members of the public are hereby notified that all offenders and violators will be dealt with in accordance with the Law.

Mr. Gbenga Omotoso
Honourable Commissioner,
Information & Strategy

January 27, 2020.

Apapa gridlock: Lagos reconstitutes Joint Security Task Force to ensure sanity

…Orders Police, other Security Agencies to strictly enforce Traffic Law, okada ban

…Restates ban on industrial fireworks, assures residents of peaceful yuletide celebration

The Lagos State Government has reconstituted the Joint Security Task Force established to tackle Apapa gridlock and other security threats within the axis brought about by the blockade of major roads in the area by tankers and containerized trucks.

The Apapa gridlock, in the past few weeks, had worsened due to breakdown of operations at the ports located in the axis.

Rising from the monthly Security Council meeting held at the Lagos House in Ikeja chaired by the State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode and attended by heads of security formations in the State, the State Government said the Task Force comprising of police, military, officials of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) would immediately be deployed to the axis to ensure sanity and contain any potential security threat.

While briefing Government House Correspondents at the end of the meeting, the State’s Commissioner of Police, Mr Imohimi Edgal said while the issues that gave rise to the gridlock were being addressed, the Task Force would ensure that the roads in the axis were not totally locked down, and also prevent criminal elements from taking advantage of the gridlock to perpetrate their nefarious activities.

Edgal, who addressed the briefing alongside commanders of security formations in the State, said: “We deliberated extensively on the Apapa gridlock and the Governor has approved with immediate effect the reconstitution of a Joint Task Force made up of police, the military, LASTMA and FRSC officials to ensure that whilst the major problems that gave rise to that situation in the first instance are being tackled, we on our part as security agencies, will ensure that we have a good semblance of decency on our roads.

“We will ensure that we create a corridor for smaller vehicles and ensure that there is no complete blockade to free flow of traffic. We will also have plain cloth and uniformed security agencies ensuring that there is no crime in the axis due to the traffic gridlock.”

The CP, who assured residents that every necessary arrangement had been made to ensure peaceful yuletide season, said the Council also approved increased visibility and patrol in all parts of the State, especially in areas there are traffic gridlock as a result of construction activities.

Already, Edgal said due to increased patrol, about 35 notorious traffic robbers were recently arrested in Ilupeju and Oshodi axis, many of whom he said are ex-convicts and would soon be charged to court at the end of investigation.

He added that as a result of the community policing and community safety partnership strategy adopted by the Lagos Police Command, there had been about 35 per cent drop in issues of residential robberies, while more boats had been handed over to Marine Police by the State Government to secure the waterways and riverine areas especially to checkmate incursions by militants and secure schools in such areas, in addition to the Tactic Guards already formed.

Speaking on ongoing clampdown on commercial motorcycles popularly known as Okada on restricted routes, Edgal said security agencies in the State have been given marching orders to strictly enforce the traffic law, and that no lawlessly or breakdown of law and order would be condoned.

He particularly admonished motorists and transport unions to impress it on their members to obey traffic laws, just as he said Okada riders must not only refrain from restricted routes, but also use helmets both for rider and passenger and not carry more than one person at a time, among other rules of engagement.

“We have the Lagos State Traffic Law and it is our responsibility to enforce the law. Motorists, motorcyclists and other form of road users must obey the law. Our men have been mandated to enforce all aspects of the law not only prohibition along some routes but also those aspects that have to do with safety. We don’t want officers and men to be challenged unduly when they are enforcing the law and I want to use this opportunity to call on the unions, especially the Okada unions to call their members to cooperate with the police. They should not form themselves into pressure and riotous groups to challenge the police and other security agencies,” Edgal said.

He said aside the security measures already put in place for residents and visitors to experience a peaceful yuletide season, any resident who sell, distribute or use industrial fireworks would be arrested and charged to court, saying that the ban on such is still very much in force.

Besides, Edgal thanked Lagosians for their cooperation with security agencies so far and urged people to continue to volunteer useful information that would help arrest potential security threat.

POLICE DISPERSE PROTESTING OKADA RIDERS IN OJO

Ojo Police Division led by CSP Abubakar Umoru, with the support of Okoko division, Rapid Response Squad and neighbouring divisions as well as army officers from Ojo cantonment, this morning dispersed hundreds of miscreants and motor cycle riders who blocked Lagos - Badagry Expressway to protest the enforcement of Lagos State Traffic Laws.

The riders along with miscreants as at 7:00 a.m. converged close to LASU main gate threatening to block the expressway in protest against plying the expressway, as stipulated in Lagos State Traffic Law.

Their presence on the highway in large numbers drew the attention of the DPO Ojo Police Division, CSP Umoru, who speedily mobilised his officers along with  Alhaji Usman Kanua, Chairman of the Motorcycle riders in the area.

The team appealed to the riders to cease action and eschew actions capable of causing chaos in the area. The protesters agreed and dispersed peacefully.

The protesters were to re - emerge later in greater numbers creating bon - fire and blocking both sides of the expressway.

The protesters who were wielding dangerous objects and hauling stones at police and passing vehicles, which shattered the windscreens of several vehicles, also injured some police officers.

It was at this point that the DPO called for reinforcement from other police divisions and Ojo Cantonment of the Nigerian Army.

At about few minutes to 10:00 a.m., the team had successfully dispelled the rioters while normalcy had since returned to the area.

It was gathered that contrary to Government's restriction of okada (motorcycle) on the highway, okada riders make fast money cashing in on the road construction on the route, to charge between N500 to N1000 from Ojo to Trade Fair Complex.