The Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Unit known as taskforce, Wednesday, directed security operatives in uniform to obey state traffic rules and regulations in Lagos.
The agency stated that some Okada operators hide under the guise of the bikes belonging to soldiers or operated by soldiers in the vicinity to evade arrest when caught operating.
The chairman, a Chief Superintendent of Police, CSP Adetayo Akerele, stated this during an operation in the office of the headquarters in Bolade, Oshodi, Lagos and assured them that there will be no sacred cows when it comes to sanitising the highways and restricted routes where Okada operations have fully been banned by the state government.
“We encountered some form of resistance from Okada operators who claimed that the bikes belong to soldiers, therefore they are untouchable. I quickly cleared their doubt and used it as means to sound a note of warning that there are no sacred cows when it comes to restoring sanity on our roads.”
He reiterated the commitment of the state government in upholding the Road Transport Sector Reform Laws of 2018 where it is clearly stated that Okada operations are prohibited on all highways in the state.
He further reminded the uniform personnel who make use of Okada as means of transportation to and fro their beat to ensure that they are fully kitted in their regalia while on a bike and the only passenger allowed to be on a bike with them is another uniform personnel who is fully kitted.
Consequently, the agency boss appealed to commuters to desist from patronising Okada operators who pose not just safety risks to the passenger and rider but also a security risk to all resident due to the use of Okada as a quick getaway means by criminal elements. He assured residents that the activities of Okada operations will be a thing of the past as the agency will leave no stone unturned till they adhere to all traffic rules and regulations of the state.
