Lagos CP Goes Tough On Motorcycle Operators

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Imohimi Edgal has gone tough on the activities of motorcycle operators a.k.a Okada in Lagos State following an ugly incident that happened recently.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that in view of the unfortunate incident of 30th May, 2018, where some okada riders had attempted to burn down Ibeshe Police Post but ended up burning a police patrol vehicle stationed at a black spot in the town, a meeting was held to discuss the issue.

The meeting, convened by the police authorities in Lagos State, was attended by different okada unions in the State such as MOALS (Motorcycle Operators Association of Lagos State) NAMORA (Nagari Motorcycle Owners and Riders Association) and ORWA (Okada Riders Welfare Association).

During the meeting which held at the MD Abubakar Conference Hall of the Police headquarters, the CP decried the attitude of some okada riders who attack members of the public or constitute themselves to authorities at the slightest disagreement. He warned that the police will not only arrest unruly okada riders but ensure that they faced the full wrath of the law.

At the end of the meeting, the following resolutions were reached.

That with effect from 15th June, 2018,

1. Any motorcycle without licence plate number will be impounded;

2. All commercial motorcycle operators are restricted from plying the highways and the bridges

3.  Every commercial motorcycle operator must register with any of the approved unions for the purpose of accountability and easy identification

4. Every commercial motorcycle operator must wear an apron which must indicate the union he belonged and bear boldly his identification number

5. A joint taskforce, comprising the police,  the Lagos State Taskforce on Environmental Sanitation and members of the motorcycle unions to oversee the implementation of the resolutions reached and the enforcement of the Lagos State traffic laws.

The CP charged members of the unions to embark on massive enlightenment of their members before enforcement will begin on 15th of June, 2018, so that they do not run foul of the law.