The Lagos State Government has expressed displeasure at the disobedience of commercial motorcycles, known as Okada, riders to the Transport Sector Reform Law (TSRL) 2018 which restricts their operations and driving against traffic known as one way driving.
In a Press Release on his official Twitter handle of the state’s Honorable Commissioner for Information and Strategy of state, Gbenga Omotoso, noted that the government prioritises the safety and security of the state. “As a government, we cannot continue to watch this lawlessness develop into an uncontrollable situation”, he said.
Speaking during a press conference on traffic rules violation in Lagos State, held at Alausa, Ikeja on Thursday, 19th Nov. 2020, the Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Frederic Oladeinde, said the game is over for traffic offenders especially the menace and impunity of commercial motorcycles and tricycles’ operators in the state.
The Commissioner read the riot act to motorcycle and tricycle operators, following the incessant violation of traffic laws and other anomalies on the road while stressing the need for sanity on the roads within Lagos.
Oladeinde, also said the restriction of motorcycles from plying 10 major highways, 40 bridges and roads within six local governments and nine Local Council Development Areas (LCDA) in the state is still in force and failure to comply with the law will attract sanctions as stipulated in the Transport Sector Reform Law (TSRL) 2018 with penalties ranging from N20, 000 to three months imprisonment.
He said: “In line with this Administration’s plan to build Lagos that works for all, we are determined to continue to engage with the various transport unions and associations of tricycle and okada operator to ensure their members cooperate with us in the process of ensuring public safety by abiding with the TSRL 2018 at all time”.
“With the upsurge in the number of commercial motorcycle operators, we shall intensify our enforcement strategy.
“We hereby direct all law enforcement agencies; Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS), Taskforce and the Nigerian Police to immediately and continuously embark on enforcement on all restricted routes” he said.
The Commissioner further said that “all commercial transport operators must carry out their daily activities within the approved routes in Lagos State”, adding that any motorist caught driving against traffic will face the maximum penalty and will equally be charged to the court of law under the transport sector reform law of Lagos 2018.
“This we intend to carry out along with the various transport union leaders. We will set up a joint enforcement team to ensure that our roads are sanitised from the menace of okada riders”, he said.
The Commissioner also urged the media to do more by enlightening drivers on the danger of one way driving. “Obedience to the law was paramount if we must build a state of our dreams. We all have joint responsibilities to make the state work for all”, he added.
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