Lagos State Police Commissioner, Abiodun Alabi, on Thursday said that residents who operate motorcycles for courier services or other private dealings will not be affected the latest okada ban.
His statement comes after the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Wednesday, May 18, announced a ban on motorcycles, popularly known as Okadas, in six local government areas after what he described as “a critical review” on the “menace that has not abated.”
According to the commissioner, lot of motorcycle operators are criminals, unlicensed and operating at free will, causing havoc in the state.
“I want to be emphatic here, most of them are criminals masquerading as okada riders,” Abiodun said on Channels Television’s show Sunrise Daily on Thursday, May 19.
“It does not affect couriers, but the couriers will not carry passengers,”
“Then the other officers who are okada owners must be uniformed personnel who are going to their various place of work.
“Those who own power-bikes are not affected, because it’s not meant for commercial purpose.”
Alabo also revealed that “We have arrested so many of them with locally made pistols in the course of their operations and many of them have been charged to court.”
“They use these okadas to commit a lot of crimes in so many communities; that is why we have been having a lot of dialogue and consultations with their unions,” he said.
“The best way out is to get them off our roads because a lot of them are masquerading as okada riders but are criminals.”
“We know that banning the Okada riders can actually increase the crime rate. And we are not unmindful of that and we are already putting in place a lot of strategies to contend with it,” he said.
“We know that it will send a lot of them to unemployment. We are aware of that and are preparing for it.”
