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Posted by
Felix Okoli on Sunday February 9, 2020 at 18:40:41:
One of the most controversial things the Lagos state govt did recently is to partially ban the use of Okada for public transportation. While there are some who totally agree with the new law, there are others, mostly the poor ones who have complained bitterly of their action.
For those who may not know, Okada refers to commercial motorcycles used in Lagos as a means of transport and they have grown quite popular over the years, I think they've operated for more than 20 years and it has helped make a lot of men self employed and improved their financial status. In Lagos, Okada is mostly driven by men as your rarely see a woman driving it other than being passengers.
They had become the fastest way of getting to any destination in Lagos, a city with traffic congestion problems as well as bad roads. They have also become the most dangerous form of land transport as they have led many to their deaths and caused injuries.
In a bid to regulate their activities, reduce accidents and also probably to make life easier for car owners, the govt has banned the use of Okada and Keke from operations across several roads in Lagos. Personzally, I support the policy as those Okada people have been really acting like wild untamed animals for a while.
While Okadas and Kekes operated, it has even been hard and unsaved for ordinary people to walk in the side of the roads as they tend to occupy and use paths meant for pedestrians. They disobey traffic laws, drive against traffic and make a lot of u necessary noiss.
The good thing about them is that they help people get to their destinations much faster than other means of transport. They are about twice expensive as using a bus and they go through inner roads where buses do not normally go.
As it is today, it seems that the Lagos govt doesn't really consider them as having a future in the grand design for the state as they are a nuisance. However, it has become a sure way to get more Lagosians to exercise but it's also going to keep the roads safer for people.