Security agencies embarked on a show of force in Lagos on Wednesday in a show of their willingness to enforce a ban on commercial motorcycle operations extended to more areas of the state.
The spokesman for the police command in Lagos state, Benjamin Hundeyin, said in a statement that it was done before the start of the execution on September 1.
The Lagos state government announced on August 18 a ban on commercial motorcycle operations (popularly known as okada) in four other local governments (LGs) and six local council development areas (LCDAs).
Transport Commissioner Frederic Oladeinde said the additional ban was the second phase of the state government’s plan to phase out okada in the state.
The government had earlier pronounced a total ban on motorcycle operations in six LGs and the respective nine LCDAs below them, including all major bridges and highways, effective June 1.
Oladeinde had said the state government had ordered police and other security and law enforcement formations within the state to enforce the new ban.
He said they would be supplemented by the “Anti-Okada Squad” that would be deployed to the new locations in a bid to spur continued implementation and enforcement of the Phase 2 ban in the state.
The Nigerian News Agency (NAN) reports that the initial LGAs affected were Ikeja, Surulere, Eti-Osa, Lagos Mainland, Lagos Island and Apapa.
The second phase was extended to Kosofe, Somolu, Oshodi-Isolo, Mushin LGA and their respective LCDAs.
Hundeyin said the state Police Commissioner Abiodun Alabi had warned that violators of the ban would be immediately arrested and prosecuted.
“Law-abiding citizens are directed to carry out their legal duties without fear of harassment or intimidation,” he said in the statement.
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Security agencies involved in the show of force include the police, army, paramilitaries, state transit agencies and the Nigerian Civil Defense and Security Corps.
NAN reports that the state government had warned that the seized motorcycles would be smashed and the process would be made public.
He also said that people arrested (both riders and passengers) would face the full wrath of the law.
The government said this was in line with the provision of Section 46 subsections 1, 2 and 3 of the Transport Sector Reform Act (TSRL), 2018. (YAYA)