Lagos insists on enforcing ban on Okada, Keke  

Lagos State Government on Friday insisted on enforcing the ban on motorbike (Okada) and tricycle (Keke) operators in the state. The Commissioner of Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, Channels Television on Friday, affirmed the commitment of the state government to clearing out commercial motorcycles, okada, from the state’s highways. The commissioner added that commercial tricycles (keke), are not excluded from the ban to ensure maximum sanity on the highways.

Omotoso was cited to have declared: “The law that bans okada also bans keke.

“Keke should not be found on highways, should not be found on bridges, should not be found on major roads in Lagos.

“Major roads are quite clear.

“Roads like Third Mainland Bridge, Ikorodu Road, and the one that leads to Airport Road. All of those places, they are not supposed to be found there.”

Lagos State government had banned okada and keke from major roads in the state in January 2020. The enforcement was relaxed during the COVID-19 lockdown.

The Information Commissioner, however, said that the recent rise in accident rates made the state government to resume the ban enforcement in the state.

According to Omotosho: “Our doctors are complaining that more persons are coming in with okada emergency.

“About 45 percent of accidents in the first quarter were caused by okada. And most of the victims are between the ages of 30 to 39.”

A sound engineer, David Imoh, was recently killed by motorcycle riders in the Lekki area of the state over a fare dispute. The incident degenerated into violence in the vicinity.