The Lagos
State government has revealed that it has concluded plans to crush and recycle
over 4, 000 impounded commercial motorcycles popularly called Okada, in line
with the provisions of the State Traffic Law 2012.
A statement by Habib Aruna, Chief Press
Secretary to the Governor, quoted Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, as
saying that recent clampdown on commercial motorcycles in the state was a
fallout of the government’s resolve to address the security concerns posed by
their operations, saying that criminals were in the habit of using Okada to
perpetrate crime and get away.
The Lagos Traffic Law
2012 prohibits the operations of Okada and tricycles also known as Keke Marwa
from operating in certain routes and areas across the state.
He said the state Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi
Ambode, had directed that the police and other security agencies concerned
redouble efforts to ensure the law was complied with, while giving assurance
that the clampdown would be sustained vigorously on a daily basis.
He said: “So far, we
have impounded about 500 motorcycles since we started our renewed efforts and
we now have a total of about 4, 000 bikes ready to be crushed. The law made
provisions on how those motorcycles should be handled and the law also made
provision on how to handle those that have flouted the law itself.”
According to Owoseni, the decision to crush and
recycle the impounded motorcycles was in accordance with the provision of the
law.
Owoseni said aside impounding the motorcycles
and tricycles, the enforcement would also clampdown on the operators and
residents who patronise them, adding that mobile courts would be instituted to
try arrested offenders.
“The operators of the commercial motorcycles
and those patronising them, with time, you will get to see the Mobile Court
going around to try some of those that have been arrested. What we are saying
here is that we want people in Lagos to know that there is a law and the law is
made for a purpose and if all of us obey the law and conform, the better for
us,” he said.
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