The Lagos State government has said it has not licenced any person or group to operate commercial services with motorcycles, popularly known as okada.
The Commissioner for Information and Strategy in the state, Gbenga Omotosho, stated this on Tuesday when he appeared on Channels Television morning show Sunrise Daily.
“You are talking about registration; as far as I am concern, the government has not registered any company to come and be running okada.
“In fact, what the government was trying to look at is how to regulate these people so that their excesses can be curtailed.
“But as far as I know, nobody has been licenced to go and start running okada because it is unfortunate that … the rate at which people are dying; the rate at which people are being robbed on the roads; the police are worried, everybody is worried.”
READ ALSO: It’s Official, Lagos Bans Motorcycles, Tricycles Effective Feb 1
The commissioner’s comments is coming a day after the government announced a ban on motorcycles and tricycles (keke) on major highways, bridges and some Local Government Areas as well as Council Development Areas.
The ban will take effect from Saturday, February 1, 2020.
According to Omotosho, the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) recorded about 104,000 accident cases involving the common Lagosians with broken arms and legs.
He noted that the areas with the highest figures of fatalities were areas dominated by a large population of poor.
Meanwhile, Omotosho said, “The guys who are doing courier services, for example, they don’t carry passengers and they don’t constitute so much danger. So, those ones are allowed.
“They have to be above 200cc and you have to have a box behind you that you are doing courier service and you don’t have to carry passengers; you have to be well-kitted and wear your helmet.”
