The Lagos State Taskforce has warned commercial motorcycle operators, popularly known as Okada riders, against violating traffic regulations, saying those caught operating on restricted routes risk arrest and impoundment of their motorcycles.
The Chairman of the agency, CSP Adetayo Akerele, issued the warning during a public advocacy and sensitisation exercise held in Ikorodu and its environs.
The engagement followed concerns from residents and road safety stakeholders over increasing cases of traffic violations and what they described as disregard for regulations by some commercial motorcycle operators.
The taskforce held discussions with members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), particularly officials of the Motorcycle Operators’ Association of Lagos State (MOALS) operating in Ikorodu, Ogolonto and Majidun.
The meeting focused on compliance with the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law, 2018, which specifies the routes on which commercial motorcycles are permitted to operate.
Akerele explained that enforcement activities in the area had previously been reduced due to what he described as a relatively high level of compliance.
He, however, said the agency had recently observed a resurgence of Okada operations on prohibited routes, including highways, bridges and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridors.
He said the development prompted the taskforce to engage transport union leaders and their members through dialogue, advocacy and sensitisation to prevent further violations.
“As a result, we deemed it necessary to engage the leadership of the transport unions and their members through dialogue, advocacy and sensitisation, to prevent further violations and ensure sustained compliance,” Akerele said.
Unions Agree to Monitor Okada Operations
At the end of the engagement, NURTW and RTEAN pledged to collaborate with the taskforce to ensure that their members operate within the provisions of the law.
The stakeholders reached three key resolutions, including a commitment by the transport unions to support compliance with the 2018 Transport Sector Reform Law, particularly its provisions on restricted routes.
The unions also agreed to establish an internal monitoring team to oversee commercial motorcycle operations in Ikorodu, Ogolonto, Majidun and neighbouring communities.
The monitoring arrangement is expected to ensure that operators adhere to the agreed guidelines and stay off prohibited routes.
The taskforce said advocacy and sensitisation efforts would continue alongside enforcement, stressing that operators caught using prohibited highways, bridges, BRT corridors or other restricted routes would be arrested and their motorcycles impounded.
Akerele commended the transport unions for their cooperation and urged commercial motorcycle operators to take the sensitisation exercise seriously by complying with traffic regulations.
“We remain committed to a balanced approach of advocacy, public education and enforcement to maintain order, safety and sanity on Lagos roads,” he said.
