We only restrict Okada on 475 out of 9,100 roads – Opeifa

A trip to the National Orthopedic hospital, Igbobi, Lagos will reveal a pathetic situation of victims of Okada accidents. Destinies altered as many on clutches cried in pain as a result of severe orthopedic injuries, while others with spinal cord injuries groan helplessly  on wheel chairs.

Before the October 20 government restriction of Okada on highways in Lagos, about 65-70 percent of accident victims who have varying degrees of bone injuries were said to have been caused by Okada accidents.

The Commissioner of Transport, Mr. Kayode Opeifa said the decision was taken by the people of Lagos. "Everyday, the traffic situation in Lagos keep rising and we all the time stressed the security facilities in the state.

The people of the state keep telling us that the traffic and safety situation are not getting any better with the Okadas still on the road. On September 5, after the signing the traffic bill into law, we had an agreement with the unions of Okada where they requested for three things. One, that we should delay the implementation time, a review of some of the roads; and a request to meet the Governor."

He explained that the roads on which Okada have been restricted are all major highways, the dual carriage roads and some single lane roads in the list of the 475 roads. According to him, "these are the roads we have adequate transport system.

Some were added by the Local government authorities. So, it is not that the executive sat and took the decision, it was in collaboration with the CDAs, the Local Government authorities, and when it got to the House of Assembly, they also took out some and added some.

So, what we have is a collective agreement of the views of the people of Lagos. We also indicated that in all these roads, should there be a situation, where there is lack of public transportation, the Hon Commissioner should review," he stated.

Opeifa opined that Okada has since remained unregulated simply because it had never been part of the public transportation system. "It arose as a result of social economic issues. It started with Babangida administration and since then it remained unregulated. Akwa Ibom state tried to regulate it, designing helmets, jackets, but they later stopped it."

Contrary to the claim of outright ban of Okada in Lagos, the transport Commissioner stated that it was not an outright ban, it was a restriction. "We have not banned motorcycle out rightly; we have only restricted them on 475 out of 9,100 roads.

It means it is just about 6 per cent of roads in Lagos are restricted. These are dual carriage roads, major roads and other roads we have public transportation system. Reeling out some of the roads, he noted that Ikorodu road, Mile 12, Ojota, Mobalaji Bank Anthony, Awolowo road, Ogunlana drive, Adeniran Ogunsanya, 3rd Mainland Bridge, Eko Bridge, are unsafe for Okada operations. "…aside the fact that there is public transportation on these roads, they are not safe for a vehicle that is not protected.