The Lagos State Government has affirmed its order on the ban of commercial motorcycles popularly known as Okada, stating that defaulters risked a three-year jail term, as enforcement of the second phase ban commences today.

The State Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Frederic Oladeinde who said this yesterday, restated the readiness of the government to prosecute defaulters in line with the provision of Section 46, sub-section 1, 2 & 3 of the Transport Sector Reform Law (TSRL), 2018 of the state.

According to NAN reports, the state government in August, declared a total ban in another four LGAs and six LCDAs mainly in Kosofe (Ikosi-Isheri and Agboyi-Ketu LCDAs); Mushin (Odi-Olowo LCDA); Oshodi (Oshodi-Isolo and Ejigbo LCDAs), and Shomolu (Bariga LCDA).

“We implore the general pubclic to comply, as both the rider and passenger are both liable to three years in prison if prosecuted.

”Their motorcycles will be impounded and crushed in the public view, in line with the provision of Section 46, sub-section 1, 2 & 3 of the Transport Sector Reform Law (TSRL), 2018.

”We implore the general public to join hands together with the state government by complying with the decision geared towards combating the monster that okada operation has created, so that sanity can return to our state.

Oladeinde said, 200 officials of the Lagos Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) had been deployed to join other security agencies to enforce the ban in the councils.

The Commissioner added that the state government has made available alternative means of transportation such as the First and Last Mile Bus Transport Scheme, the BRT Scheme, and the Lagos e-hailing taxi Scheme (LAGRIDE) and other acceptable modes of transportation, to go about their daily activities.”