Posted by The Vanguard on
FOLLOWING the vandalisation of public property that followed Last Monday killing of a commercial motorcyclist, "Okada" Mr. Peter Edeh, the Lagos State Government yesterday issued a seven day ultimatum to the Motorcycle Operators Association in Ikeja, within which to raise over N4 million being the estimated cost of repairs to the vandalized traffic signal lights.
FOLLOWING the vandalisation of public property that followed Last Monday killing of a commercial motorcyclist, "Okada" Mr. Peter Edeh, the Lagos State Government yesterday issued a seven day ultimatum to the Motorcycle Operators Association in Ikeja, within which to raise over N4 million being the estimated cost of repairs to the vandalized traffic signal lights.
The association will be banned if it fails to raise that amount according to the State Commissioner for TransportMr. Muiz Banire.
Mr. Banire told reporters at a news conference that as condemnable as the killing was, the fine became necessary to serve as a deterrent to others and a strong warning to the public not to take laws into their hands by resorting to vandalisation of public property at a slightest provocation.
His words: "Equally condemnable is the vandalisation of public property by Okada operators under the guise of protesting the death of their colleague. It beats my imagination that anyone in his right senses would resort to the vandalisation of traffic signal lights all because a man shot and killed another person. Where is the place of traffic signal light in the unfortunate incident''?
"Regarding the traffic signal lights that were vandalized, the cost of repairs and replacement as the case may be has been estimated at N4, 065,000.00 only.
''The cost of repairs and replacement shall be borne by the Okada operators in Ikeja Local Government. The Motorcycle Operators Association of Lagos State (MOALS), Ikeja Branch is hereby given seven days within which to raise the sum and pay to the coffers of the Lagos State Government or risk a ban of Okada operation in Ikeja.''
"There is no gainsaying that, what happened was not a protest but a clear case of arson which the state cannot afford to let go unpunished. A country like ours, which is battling to find her feet in the provision of infrastructure can least, afford the vandalisastion of the few ones the state government has put in place. It smacks of gross indiscipline for any group of misguided elements to destroy public property built with taxpayers' money.
Perhaps, it is because they do not pay tax, which is why they could not appreciate the fact that such property belongs to all citizens including themselves"".
Mr. Banire noted that the lawlessness of Okada operators in the state was unrivalled especially when they wrong other road users adding that they resort to gangsterism and brigandage to intimidate most motorists, beating them up most times and atimes burning their vehicles. ""I dare say that the era of taking laws into their hands is gone for good as the state government shall not hesitate to deal ruthlessly with anyone caught in such act"".
He warned that the enforcement of traffic rules and regulations against the motorcycle operators shall be stepped up immediately, sounding a note of warning to them to desist from riding without crash helmets, disobedience to traffic signal lights, riding against the flow of traffic (one-way) or carrying more than one passenger at a time.
Banire continued: ""They should note that the only alternative to the regulation of Okada sub sector of the transportation industry in this state is the outright ban of Okada as a mode of public transportation. The choice is theirs, it is either they comply or face the consequence of the imminent ban. Let those who have ears listen, hear very well and prevail on their recalcitrant colleagues to obey the law".