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The Lagos State government is in a dilemma as to what to do with the report and recommendations of a 32-member committee it set up to evaluate and advise it on Okada operation

 For some time now, there has been lots of anxiety among Lagos residents about the fate of motorcycle operators (popularly called okada) in the state. The anxiety arose as a result of a committee’s report that was submitted to the Lagos State government late December, concerning okada transportation in the state. In early December 2011, the Babatunde Raji Fashola administration inaugurated a 32-member committee led by Olusegun Kazeem, a retired deputy inspector general of police, with a mandate to evaluate and advise it on the activities of Okada operators in Lagos.

This is probably not unconnected with what some people consider the disadvantages of that means of transportation. They include accidents or road crashes as well as robberies linked to hoodlums who either perpetrate crime under the guise of being motorcycle operators, or are themselves unsuspecting participants  in theft or robbery cases initiated by criminals. The setting up of the committee was the latest in the Lagos State government’s efforts at sanitising Okada operation in the state. Previous attempts before now had seen the government regulate or restrict the movement of okada riders to certain parts of the state, unlike in the past. It was all aimed at curtailing the “menace” posed by okada riders.

The committee members met for three weeks before finally presenting their report to Fashola in late December. The governor said, while receiving the report, that the government would study it before coming out with a paper on it. If the committee’s report is adopted, it could sound the death knell on motorcycle operation in Lagos State, and that is already a source of worry for some residents of the state. The apprehension stems from thoughts of what could become the alternative or better means of transportation, should okada be banned. Like in many other parts of the country, okada is a popular means of transportation in Lagos, and the thought of doing away with it, is what many people just cannot contemplate.

People’s fears are not misplaced, given the recommendations contained in the report. For instance, the  report notes that “17 out of 20 armed robbery incidents are committed by okada operators” in the state, and that, “in terms of accidents, from LASUTH in Ikeja, we had 179 cases, within October and November  alone,” out of which  170 of the victims were passengers. It further states that at the tollgate emergency centre, Lagos,  there were  41 accidents reported there on okada  and that “in the combined reports from 20 government hospitals over the last two months in October and November, we had 1,039 accident cases on okada,” while “LASTMA also has a record of 1,008 traffic violation by okada riders.”

Apart from the issue of okada related deaths, the committee noted that okada or motorcycle use contributes to air pollution, which in turn leads to respiratory diseases. That is, as it concerns humans. On the other hand, air pollution, it said, “contributes to the depletion of the ozone layer which invariably causes excessive heat and flood.”

In a nutshell, the committee members, advised the state government to think of a better alternative to okada transportation. Although they admit that okada business is a source of employment to many young Nigerians as well as revenue source for the government through the issuance of licences and riders cards to motorcycle operators, they insist that “the incalculable cost of loss of lives, injuries and crimes cannot in anyway be compensated by its economic benefits.”  The report, however, expects the government to take into consideration the challenges banning of okada could pose in a populated state like Lagos. It is estimated that more than 100,000 commercial motorcylists operate in Lagos.

Newswatch’s efforts to confirm whether the  Lagos State  government would fully adopt the report did not yield fruits, because no government official was ready to speak on the issue, despite visits to the Lagos State secretariat, the seat of government power,  and repeated phone calls made to that effect. But okada operators in Lagos are not taking the committee’s recommendations lightly. They have already headed for the court to stop government’s plan. The motorcycle operators, under the umbrella of four associations: Trustees of  National Commercial Motorcycle and Tricycle Owners and Riders’ Association, Motorcycle Transport Union of Nigeria; Trustees of All Nigerians Autobike Commercial Owners and Workers’ Association, and Okada Welfare Association, have filed a suit dated February 8, at a Federal High Court in Ikeja, through their counsel, Bamidele Aturu. They want the court to stop the Lagos State government from going ahead with the proposed plan, and thereby “ensure that all citizens, without discrimination on any group whatsoever, have the opportunity for securing adequate means of livelihood.”

Even as the okada members have taken the matter to court, some okada unions are already taking steps aimed at monitoring the activities of their members, with a view to identifying the bad eggs among them. Israel Alofokhai, chairman, Motorcycle Association of Lagos State, MOALS, motorway unit in Onigbongbo local council development area, told Newswatch that the union has put some measures in place to monitor the activities of okada riders with the intention of punishing those that violate the rules. One of such measures is the decision of the union to sew apron for all members in the unit. The apron would carry individual number which would make it easy to detect fake or erring members.

Although Alofokhai admitted that there are some bad eggs among okada riders, he said that it is unfair to simply generalise or group every rider as one. However, even with the vote of no confidence passed on okada operation in the state by the committee members, Alofokhai does not believe that the government would consider the option of banning it, in view of the contribution of okada to the growth of the economy.

He noted that okada transportation system is indispensable to the extent that some states in the country that banned its operation in their state capitals are considering re-introducing it.

On the claim of reckless riding that sometimes results in accidents on major roads, Alofokhai said it is not restricted to okada riders alone. “Motor accidents happen daily on major highways yet government does not consider banning motor transportation,” he said.

 Kehinde Bakare , chairman,  MOALS,  Ojota branch, also believes that  banning  Okada would increase hardship in the country, because many okada operators  have dependants who daily look up to them for succour.  He added that the MOALS union in Lagos, has since been appealing to the government not to consider the option of banning okada in the state. It is not only okada riders who are worried about the consequences of banning okada in a thickly populated state as Lagos.

Many Lagos residents, who spoke to Newswatch, also advised the government to tread with caution, because if not well handled, it could have adverse social consequences.  The plank of their argument is that banning okada will throw more people out of job and invariably lead to a rise in crime, apart from the fact that it will subject many people to hardship in their quest to easily commute from place to place, which okada is known to guarantee. Some who spoke to Newswatch   recalled that okada had come to their rescue, at one critical time or the other in a state long noted for traffic snarl, in their desperation to keep appointments. But as far as Fred Ewere is concerned, the issue is more about the job loss that will result from such action. “How do they want people to survive, in view of the limited employment opportunities?” he asked.

Felix Oigiangpe, a commercial motorcyclist, also spoke in the same vein. “Okada business has assisted many people to train their children in school, and meet their basic needs. What should they then do? Where does government want them to go?” he asked. Francis Olusegun, a graduate and motorcyclist, sees any attempt to ban okada as a deliberate step to throw him and people like him back to the streets. Warning of the negative effects of such plan, Olusegun said that crime would naturally increase if such a decision is taken.

Bitrus Alanda, another motorcyclist, wants the government to consider the plight of the numerous people who depend on the business as their source of livelihood. “It is not my choice to do okada, but there is no job,” he said.  Banning okada, he added, would increase criminality in Lagos State as many families would be subjected to suffering.

Besides the social consequences, some people wonder how the state government intends to go about cushioning the effect. “It would pose a serious problem for everyone, if the committee’s report is adopted,” said Ewere.  Rather than think of rendering people jobless, Olusegun Alaba advised that the Lagos State government should think of building more factories to accommodate the army of jobless youths in the state.

Reported by Augustine Adah, Sule Elaigwu and  Ojima Achimugu