• Home
• Columnist
• Videos
• Artist
  • Musicians
  • Actors
  • Comedians
• Notable Nigerians
• Legend Dies
• Articles
  • Nigeria Articles
• Photos
• Submit Article

Okada riders in the Ikeja area of Lagos State are losing money due to their restriction to fewer routes and also to the police who are taking advantage of the restriction to harass them 

These are not the best of times for commercial motorcycle operators, popularly called Okada, in the Ikeja axis of Lagos. Since March 13, many Okada riders have had a raw deal in the hands of security officials who are out to implement a Lagos State’s order banning commercial motorcyclists from operating in some parts of  Ikeja.

The Lagos State government had long served notice that it would restrict  Okada operation in the state and this led to the setting up of a committee last December to look into that means of transportation as it concerns Lagos State. The committee concluded its assignment and submitted its report within three weeks. The report notes that, put  on a scale of good and bad, Okada was more harmful than beneficial.  “17 out of 20 armed robbery incidents are committed by Okada operators” in Lagos State, it says, adding that “the combined reports from 20 government hospitals in October and November, had 1,039 accident cases on Okada” while “LASTMA also has a record of 1,008 traffic violation by Okada riders.” Given these negative statistics, the committee members advised the state government to think of a better alternative to Okada transportation since “the incalculable cost of loss of lives, injuries and crimes cannot in anyway be compensated by its economic benefits”. But even this report, which from an Okada rider’s point of view, is harsh and ominous, advised the Lagos State government to take into consideration the challenges that banning of Okada could pose in a populated state like Lagos.

Babatunde Fashola, the Lagos State governor, while receiving the report from the 32- man committee headed by Olusegun Kazeem, a retired deputy inspector-general of police, said that his administration would study and come out with a White Paper on it. The result of that deliberation by the state government, perhaps, was the circular that emanated on March 13, restricting the movement of Okada in certain routes, and which was signed by Jaiyeoba Joseph, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer. “Due to increasing rate of criminality through use of motorcycles popularly known as Okada the Lagos State Government in collaboration with the Lagos State Police Command has decided to put a total ban on Okada within Ikeja axis namely: Oba Akran, Bank Anthony Way, Isaac John, Opebi Link Bridge, Adekunle Fajuyi Way, Acme Road, Alausa-Oregun, Simbiat Abiola Way and Kodeso Road with immediate effect,” the report said.

This is not the first time though that the Lagos State government would regulate or restrict okada transportation in the state. It had done so long before the setting up of the committee headed by Kazeem. Some parts of Lagos, including Victoria Island, Ikoyi and  Ikeja, were declared no go areas for Okada riders by the state government. Places  like Obafemi Awolowo Way and Bank Anthony Way in Ikeja, as well as Abeokuta Expressway, fell into this category.

But this latest order banning Okada in the listed areas came as a rude shock to many Okada operators. In fact many of them were caught napping that March 13 that policemen began enforcing the order, as they were unaware of the directive. A number of them were arrested, while others were harassed or chased away. “On that March 13, around 2p.m, we were surprised to see police everywhere, picking Okada, and arresting them,” said Joseph Olukayode Amadi, who is the chairman of Motorcycle Operators Association of Lagos State, Ikeja, Branch A. But, according to him, the enforcement of the order  didn’t end that day. Policemen went beyond their brief by arresting Okada riders indiscriminately including those plying the roads which fall outside the restricted routes. Their intention, he said,  is to make  money for themselves. “It’s not a partial ban, it’s a total one. Our members, wherever they operate, have been restricted or barred from doing their work. Policemen now go as far as mechanic workshops to seize or impound Okada. Even those parked in front of people’s houses, they will take them. When they seize an Okada, they will scrutinise it, and take the good ones aside and tag them from N5,000 to N15,000 which the owners have to pay to take back possession of their bike. And the money doesn’t go into any government purse.”

Amadi said the situation has brought untold hardship to the Okada riders. “I see it as a way of extorting money and harassing innocent people. Taking the economic situation into consideration, you can imagine the hardship people go through. These are people who engage themselves in social services. Because of the unemployment situation, we have graduates among us, and you really have to praise the efforts of the riders who have gainfully engaged themselves.” He added that the ripple effect of  Okada ban affects a  lot of families because “about 65 percent of Okada riders are married with children” and, “now that they have been dislodged, their families are more or less in disarray; they are only living by the grace of God.”

On the issue of crime that Okada people have been accused of, Amadi’s reply was that those who commit  crimes are not genuine Okada people. “The people that indulge in crime only buy bike for fast movement. They are robbers, not Okada riders. They only use the bike for their activities, the same way a car owner would choose to use his car for anything. They are not commercial operators.”

He however, added that it is not right for the government to want to use such excuse to stop people from earning a legitimate living, especially in a situation where there are no alternatives. He appealed to the Fashola administration  to reconsider its decision. “We the Okada unions contributed immensely to the re-election of the present government. I remember vividly that his excellency  called us and gave us his word that he was not going to ban Okada in Lagos but would only restrict it. But as it is now, Okada business within Ikeja axis has been paralysed and millions of people have been thrown into the unemployment cycle. So, I’m appealing to his excellency to have a rethink and unban some of these roads and also tell the police to work within the confines of the law.”

The fate of the Ikeja Okada riders has sent ripples down the spine of other Okada members elsewhere in the state. They are afraid that the state government might ban or restrict their operations too. For that , they will be hoping that the suit instituted against the Lagos State government on their  behalf by four bodies: National Commercial Motorcycles and Tricycle Owners and Riders Association, NATOMORAS, Motorcycle Transport Union of Nigeria, MTUN, All Nigerians Autobike Commercial Owners and Workers Association, ANACOWA and Okada Riders Welfare Association, ORWA, turns out in their favour. The case, which first came up for hearing in February, continued on April 2 at a Lagos High Court. The Okada unions were represented by Bamidele Aturu, a Lagos lawyer. He accused the state government of seeking to stop his clients from earning a legitimate  living and asked the court to halt it. But Ade Ipaye, the Lagos State Attorney General and  commissioner for justice, denied that the Lagos State government plans to ban Okada transportation in the state. What is rather imminent, he said is “regulation.” Hundreds of Okada riders stormed the court that April 2 to show solidarity with the cause. Judgement in the case was later fixed for May 4.

When contacted on the matter, Joseph, the Lagos PPRO, said policemen were not supposed to go beyond the routes earmarked in the circular, and that people have a right to take up the matter if their rights were being infringed upon.

Honour for Nkwocha

Jossy Nkwocha, head of corporate communications at Eleme Petrochemicals, Port Harcourt, and former general editor of Newswatch was among some selected sons and daughters of Imo State, who were honoured April 7, by Rochas Okorocha for their outstanding contributions to the development of their various communities. The governor, who bestowed the ‘Statesman Community Award’ on Nkwocha at a colourful ceremony at All Seasons Hotel, Owerri, described him as one of the icons and champions of development and a source of pride to Imo people.

Nkwocha, who hails from Ngor Autonomous Community in Ngor-Okpala local government area of the state, was nominated for the award by Eze Fredrick Nwachukwu, Ogboro 1, who is his traditional ruler and his council of chiefs.

 The traditional ruler said that he considered Nkwocha worthy of the honour because he has proved to be a rare personality who is selfless and has a big dream for the community. “He has a passion for community service; respected for his hard-work, humility and integrity; and admired for his respect for elders, and ability to succeed against all odds. He is a motivator who has inspired Ngor youths to embrace university education,” he said.

He recalled some of the contributions the awardee had made to the development of the community such as the convening of the first peace summit during the tussle for Ezeship of Ngor Autonomous community. He also said as the president of Ngor Town Union, Lagos branch, Nkwocha mobilised funds for the renovation of Ngor Central School and facilitated the electrification of the community. In addition, the awardee single-handedly built and donated a bungalow for priests at Emmanuel Anglican Church, Ngor.

Nkwocha, who was elated by the honour, told Newswatch he felt humbled that his community could nominate him for recognition by the Imo State government. He said that it would challenge him to contribute more to the development of his community in particular and Imo State at large.