The police commissioner said the okada riders were fond of flouting road regulations. Photo: Abiodun Omotosho

The Lagos State Police Commissioner, Marvel Akpoyibo on Tuesday ordered all area commanders, divisional police officers, and area traffic officers to arrest commercial motorcyclists that contravened traffic regulations.

Police spokesman, Frank Mba, stated that the order to arrest such motorcyclists was aimed at improving the traffic situation in the state. Mr. Mba said the manner in which commercial motorcyclists, popularly known as okada riders, disobeyed traffic rules was becoming worrisome to the police commissioner.

“Commercial motorcyclists do not obey traffic officers and traffic lights,” he said. “They do not respect the rights of other road users. When a traffic light or officer says stop, both vehicles and motorcycles must stop without exception.”

Mr Mba said that the commissioner’s order must be strictly carried out, stressing that any arrested motorcyclist would be prosecuted according to the law. According to him, if motorists and motorcyclists obey traffic rules, there will be less traffic jams in Lagos state. He advised motorists to ensure that they put in place all needed facilities during this rainy season, to help reduce traffic jams resulting from broken down vehicles.

Ban on certain passengers

The Lagos State Government, on Monday, banned the use of commercial motorcycles for carrying pregnant women with effect from July 1. The operators were also barred from carrying school-age children, and women with babies strapped to their backs, as part of the enforcement of traffic laws and regulations in the state. Special adviser to Governor Babatunde Fashola on transportation, Kayode Opeifa, said that the enforcement of the law became necessary as the government was keen on protecting the lives of its citizens.

“Many lives, who could contribute meaningfully to the development of the state and the nation, are being lost through the menace of okada operators on our roads,” he said, adding that the decision was made to ensure security of lives and properties and reduce rate of accidents on Lagos roads.

The implications

The full enforcement, which will be carried out by all law enforcement and traffic agencies in the state, according to Mr Opeifa means “Okada operators must at no time on any road carry pregnant women, school-age children, and women with children strapped to their backs.”

Another important aspect of the regulation states that both the rider and passenger must wear crash helmets and that no operator is allowed to carry more than one passenger at a time or carry a passenger with load. Mr Opeifa emphasized that all Okada operators must have a license called Rider’s Card.

“Other regulations that nobody below 18 years should ride motorcycle, no horn except that of motorcycle should be fixed on the motorcycle, no car stereo should be fixed on the morotcycle, and that no motorcycle should ply a dual carriage way must now be duly observed,” he said.

He however implored passengers to always encourage Okada operators to always obey traffic rules and reminded operators of their operational time limit.

“All motorcycle operators within Ikoyi, Victoria Island and Ikeja should close by 8pm while others elsewhere should end their operations by 10pm. Motorcycle operators should obey traffic rules and regulations such as obeying the traffic signal lights and zebra crossings, not riding against the flow of traffic, not parking on the kerbs, medians or pedestrian walkways,” he said, adding that no Okada is allowed to operate within the central business districts.

Mr. Opeifa said series of meetings had been held with the leadership of the two commercial motorcycle associations recognized in the State before making the announcement. The two associations are the Motorcycle Operators Association of Lagos State, under National Union of Road Transport Workers, and the All Nigerian Auto bike Commercial Owners and Workers Association, under the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria. He added that anyone found guilty of any of the regulations would be made to face the full wrath of the law.

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