AbiodunFaf: Funny comments, it is not that anyone is saying there should not be laws regulating the activities of these okada riders and possible ban from highways and all sorts but the truth is for all these laws are there cushion effects. I am not surprised of the reactions of these people and I don't thing any right thinking person should be surprised cause the government has just treated them like mere numbers and not humans. For crying out loud do you know that majority of these okada riders are graduates who has no jobs, some have families and this job is what they feed them with. Change is a transitional thing most especially when it involves people. Where is the job that government has created for these people? And yet there are laws destroying means of livelihood that in the first place it wasn't the government that created. It is not everybody that. Has cars in Lagos, majority don't does that mean that they have to treck to their homes on their way back from work and so on. The government is calling for increase in crime rate due to joblessness and other dangerous social vices. Rather than ban, government should regulate that's what I think.

Julieccentric: I was talking to one of this aboki okada guys and asked what he intended to do with his life now that there was a ban.

[b]He said he would become an armed robber,I asked if that was a professi[/b]on. I told him not to be foolish but that he should return to school cos he looks sound or learn a trade since he was young and he was grateful. This people need to be motivated else I foresee problems, these guys are everywhere

omosexy1: My Opinion - I think Okada should be outrightly banned from Lagos. We have many mad persons riding these motorcycles in the city. They don't obey traffic laws, many don't have licenses, some engage in criminal activities. The recent restriction placed on them has revealed the mental capacity of these thugs. Yet, people continue to patronise them and trust them with their lives. On several occasions, I have had to apply caution not to knock down okada riders and passengers on express roads who deliberately choose to ply one-way. Honestly, the State Govt cannot curb these okada menace rather an outright ban is the best way about it. When people cry foul that the crime rate will increase, it then shows that okada riders are the criminals in Lagos. I choose not to believe this, criminals would be criminals (like the ones demolishing and burning social facilities in the state) and those who are not criminals will adjust to other occupations. We should consider our safety first. You put your life at risk by hopping on an okada regardless of the distance of your trip, you put your trust on a total stranger - his driving skills you are yet to ascertain, you increase your chances of being hospitalised because the chances of safety during a collusion is very low with okadas. THINK SAFETY, DESIST FROM USING OKADAS. THERE ARE OTHER MODES OF ROAD TRANSPORT THAT CAN GET YOU TO YOUR LOCATION.

OYINBOGOJU: Good way to go.....

Atleast all those young hausas and their igbo counterparts will return to their village.

globatop: acn is gradually digging its grave. ondo state election is a warning signal. u lawmakers that are anti pple will soon come back to meet us. lagos is a commercial capital, you can't provide enough infrastructure, commuters are suffering, lawmakers are laughing, labour party is warming up.

rich_john: Untold hardship and pains looming everywhere when will nigerians stop praying and start acting!!! Police and army are reluctantly carrying out dis assignment I pray nigerians know that the time to act right is NOW

pro01:

Maybe you should define who a "Lagosian" is. If by that, you mean 'indigenes' of Lagos State, then maybe you should know that you fools have not contributed even up to 1% of the wealth/revenues/commerce that makes Lagos what it is. What percentage of the properties and businesses in Lagos is owned by you lazy fools that think you 'own' Lagos?

Without the non-Indigenes, Lagos State would be as wretched as Ebonyi and Gombe et al. Some of you need to put on your thinking caps helmets. "Go back to your village" bla bla bla. . . Only dimwits would say stuff like that.

pro01:

Maybe you should define who a "Lagosian" is. If by that, you mean 'indigenes' of Lagos State, then maybe you should know that you fools have not contributed even up to 1% of the wealth/revenues/commerce that makes Lagos what it is. What percentage of the properties and businesses in Lagos is owned by you lazy fools that think you 'own' Lagos?

Without the non-Indigenes, Lagos State would be as wretched as Ebonyi and Gombe et al. Some of you need to put on your thinking caps helmets. "Go back to your village" bla bla bla. . . Only dimwits would say stuff like that.

alj harem:

Even if PDP enters, it would be a continuation of this current laws so don't get your hopes high.

omosexy1: The Lagos State House of Assembly on Monday threatened to ban commercial motorcycle popularly known as Okada out rightly from the State.


Some Okada riders protesting the ban on them from plying 475 roads in the metropolis.
The Speaker of the House, Adeyemi Ikuforiji made the threat following a report on the destruction of government properties by the protesting Okada riders along Ikorodu road.

The House frowned at the attitude of Okada riders in the metropolis, calling on the state government to further strengthen security agencies to protect lives and property.

Mr Ikuforiji, while reacting to the incident said the House would not hesitate to ban Okada out rightly if the riders continue to destroy government property and constitute nuisance in the State.

Some Okada riders went on the rampage in various parts of Lagos State on Monday to protest the ban on them from plying 475 roads in the metropolis.

At Onipanu, on Ikorodu Road, the protesters vandalised about 10 BRT buses during the violent protest against the Lagos State Government.

Armed with sticks, iron roads and other dangerous weapons, the Okada riders hauled stones at BRT buses on Ikorodu road at Onipanu and Palmgrove bus stops.

There was pandemonium in the area and a team of policemen from the Rapid Response Squad, RRS was deployed to the area to quell the protest.
It was gathered that some arrests were made by the police but the number of arrests is yet to be confirmed.

Similarly, the riders also protested in Ikorodu and Ejigbo areas of the state this morning over the ban on them by government. In Ejigbo, the riders blocked the road, causing traffic jam in the area while they carried leaves and chanted anti-government songs. They rejected the ban placed on them from plying 475 roads in Lagos, saying it would cripple their businesses.

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, confirmed the protest, saying the police moved in on time to quell the protest.

Total war on Okada

Meanwhile, the Lagos State Government has declared a total war on commercial motorcycle riders plying the 475 prohibited routes in the Lagos metropolis.

Speaking at a forum to enlighten military officials in Lagos, the State governor, Babatunde Fashola solicited the assistance of the army in the implementation of the new traffic law.

“The military gave us this democracy, so there must be a continuing partnership to keep it going,” Mr Fashola said.

The governor however insisted that such partnership would happen “only where the rule of law prevails.”

He said: “About the Okada, for me, I understand the economics of the okada. But it also has the social effects. Many fathers have lost their children; many husbands have lost their wives; many children have lost both parents.

“All we are saying is don’t go on the highways. First because we must even understand, Okadas and vehicles are automobiles; they are not toys; they are mechanical devices and therefore for you to even use them you must go and train. That’s why you go to driving school to go and learn; then they certify you.

“Somebody just pulls okada from any parts of the country he likes, gets onto a truck, he’s going to Lagos and then you entrust your life to that man? As if that was not bad enough, he drives against traffic?

http://www.channelstv.com/home/2012/10/22/lagos-assembly-threatens-total-okada-ban/?utm_source=&utm_medium=twitter

OYINBOGOJU: Good way to go.....

Atleast all those young hausas and their igbo counterparts will return to their village.

born2fuck: I want nigeria to divide because of what is just said, I do not know what you people are looking for in our land because since I was born till now, my entire life journey is between lagos and ekiti state, I don't even go to londoo or enter yeye plane but making enough dough for partying around lagos, if we divide, I will enjoy life more often and all your benin ashewo girls go dey collect visa before dem enter here,because na them to collect all my hard labour pass

jeffoski: I don't think the state govt is taking the right step on dis okada issue.Yes I agree they have their flaws and have caused many accident but is not like other vehicles are 100% safe too.And yes they are been used for armed robbery but Danfo,cabs,taxi,Private cars etc are also used for robbery as well infact they are number 1 when it comes to one chance,kidnapping,ritual killing e.t.c which is on the increase now and I have not heard for once that the police or any security agent have apprehend any1 now tell me how do dis same police and military want to protect our lives and property with the high rate of crime that is about to hit lagos?


There are ways to organize the activities of this okada riders. Set up an organization that can help train this riders on how to ride(just like driving school),educate and enlighten them about riding and the traffic laws of the state. Make sure is not every one dat gets to operate but those that have been well trained and have been giving license to do so(just like driving permit or license)and also make sure that the security agent on the road are serious people who can checkmate their activities and make sure they keep to the laws.


I remember the time they told all okada riders to get new plate number,use helmet and not carry more than 1 passenger at a time. this people kept to this rule because of the strict penalty but still dis security agent in some areas relax and where not strict with their duties.

Taking a way their source of living with no alternative means will not solve the problem. Some of them do not have a village to return back to due to the recent flood and boko haram activities. I heard one rider last week lamenting on how his village was affected by this bakassi issue and he didn't know where his fate lies anymore. seriously if life in the village was rosy and good am sure many of them won't even bother coming to lagos in the 1st place. some people who are not okada riders but suffering here would have gone back to their village. Farmers are not having the best of times especially when the government abandon agriculture for Oil.

The best way to combat this situation is either re organizing the whole system or create employment opportunity cos with the number of un employed youth we have now (both educated and non)and now d large number of okada riders joining at this crucial point(EMBER season) we are only creating more problems for ourselves.

new maonza: Not in the Manner they are going about it.... mind u itz not FASHOLA that would suffer it( He is heavily Guarded by security men and He has a sirened Convoy to always clear the road for him in case of HEAVY TRAFFIC....)

ifyalways: Nigerians are quite confused. Some, that is. What really do we want?

Politicians promise and indeed give youths "free" okadas during and after campaign/election. 2 years down the line, same politician wants okada banned? Ok!

Corporate bodies, individuals are giving out hundreds of okadas out daily as a consolation/star prize of one promo or the other.

Big men, banks and thrift societies are all "helping" young men in one way or the other by giving them "an okada" for hire purchase or a loan to get one.

If the assembly needs to threaten anyone, they should start with themselves,MTN,GLO etc etc . . .

NB:I support having okadas off the highways.

234GT: These okada riders should just register and vote out the acn in 2015.