Lagos State deputy governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat has justified the state government’s ban on commercial motorcycles and tricycles, stressing that the decision was taken majorly to guarantee the security and safety of residents of the state.
Speaking during a television programme, ‘Politics Today’ on Channels Television, monitored by Community Bell, Hamzat said the decision was taken to curb the rate of crime and accidents recorded on major roads and highways in the state. He also revealed that motorcycles and tricycles, popularly known as Okada and Keke Marwa were now used by some criminal elements to perpetrate crimes such as drug trafficking and theft among others.
Lagos Deputy Governor
“The truth of the matter is that it is a law that has been in existence since 2012. It was revised by the past administration in 2018. So, it is a law that has been there for like nine, 10 years.
“We all know that it was not implemented; so what we are doing is to implement the law. It is not that we just woke up and banned them. It is about the security of lives. “The essence is not to punish anybody or to restrict people from doing any job, but you have to be alive before you can make money.” While justifying the ban, the deputy governor disclosed that on the average, 28 deaths are related to motorcycle incidents directly on a monthly basis in the state.
Meanwhile, a member of House of Representatives, representing Oshodi/Isolo Federal Constituency II, Hon. Ganiyu Johnson, has urged Lagos residents and commercial motorcycle operators to be patient with the Lagos State government over the recent bank on motorcycles and tricycles.
He said that Lagosians should not forget that there had been a lot of negative reports associated with the activities of some commercial motorcycles and tricycles, therefore the state governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu would not look away because the lives and safety of Lagos people were of paramount importance to him.
Hon. Johnson in a statement he issued and made available to journalists stated that the reason for the ban in some areas of the State was in the best interest of the people.
“The decision by the government to ban the operation of the commercial motorcycle and tricycle operators in some areas is a decision taken for the good of the people. I am sure that with time, the generality of Lagosians and even the genuine commercial motorcycle and tricycle operators would appreciate what the governor has done,” he said.
