Security

Ondo Resumes Ban on Okada, Use of Tinted Glasses

By Web News 864

The Ondo State government has ordered resumed the enforcement of the ban on motorcycle operations outside 6am-6pm, nightclub activities beyond 12 midnight and the use of tinted glasses on vehicles without an official permit.

The governor’s Special Adviser on Security Matters, Chief Adetunji Adeleye and Corps Commander of the Amotekun corps, made this known in a statement made available to newsmen in Akure.

According to the statement, Chief Adeleye said, “in furtherance of the current administration’s efforts to rid the state of criminally-minded persons or groups, law enforcement agencies are to resume enforcement on the ban on motorcycle operations outside 6am-6pm, night club activities beyond 12 midnight, use of vehicles with tinted glasses without a permit, unregistered vehicles, use of sticker number plates in lieu of car dealership approved stickers”. 

He said all security agencies are hereby enjoined to impound all such motorcycles and vehicles while the owners or riders would be prosecuted.

The government encourages all vehicle and motorcycle owners to register their vehicles/motorcycles as defaulters would be made to face the full wrath of the law.

Leke Adegbite

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Transportation

Ban: Okada Riders Risk 3 Years Imprisonment as Lagos Starts Phase 2

By Web News 482

The Lagos State Government says defaulters of the ban on commercial motorcycle operators (Okada), risk a three-year jail term, as enforcement for the Phase 2 ban starts on Friday.

The Commissioner for Transport, Dr Frederic Oladeinde, said this during a news conference in Ikeja, adding that the Phase 2 okada ban was in four Local Government Areas and six Local Government Development Councils.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the state government in August declared a total ban on 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 public 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.

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

According to him, the extension of the ban to four more LGAs and LCDAs is in the right direction to ensure the security of lives and property.

”As a responsive government, we are not leaving the affected passengers stranded without any viable means of transportation, that is why we have made available alternative and sustainable means of transportation.

”The alternative transportation includes the First and Last Mile Bus Transport Scheme, the BRT Scheme, the Lagos e-hailing taxi Scheme (LAGRIDE) and other acceptable modes of transportation, to go about their daily activities.

”The decision and position of the government on okada is very clear, and we are not compromising on this decision, which is to further consolidate on the achievements made so far with particular reference to the decrease in accidents and crime,” the commissioner said.

The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Gbenga Omotoso, also reiterated that the government was not leaving the okada riders stranded.

Omotoso said that the riders could approach the government as a cooperative to get the first and last mile buses.

Vanguard/Simeon Ugbodovon

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Security

Okada Ban: Obaseki Assures Residents of Security

By Web News 455

The Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has pledged to sustain partnership with security agencies in the state to ensure improved security of lives and property of citizens of the state.

According to Mr Crusoe Osagie, the Special Adviser on Media Projects to the governor, it was gathered that Obaseki, while reviewing the state’s security situation for the month of May, said the ban on motorcycles in the Benin metropolis was still in force.

The review came after a joint security meeting with representatives of various security agencies in the state.

Obaseki said, “The ban on motorcycles in the main city is still in force. We only allowed tricycles in and around Semi-Urban areas. Motorcycles can still be used in rural areas where the road network is not as good as that of the city and that is the position in the state today.

“The bulk of the accidents that we are seeing is not from the city. We are witnessing them on the federal roads, particularly in the Ovia area and around Agbede and Ewu area. Those are the main areas where we experienced accidents because those roads are not quite motorable.

“We also noticed that there was a slight increase in reported drug cases. Kidnapping cases were stable for the month. We also witnessed a slight increase in armed robbery, which was not totally unconnected with political activities during the period.”

“The security situation in the state is fair. The cooperation level amongst the security agencies in the state continues to be very good and that is why we’ve been able to control the situation within the state,” he added.

On his part, the Edo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Abutu Yaro, said, “Edo is now very, very safe under the watch of the governor of the state. It’s ready for business and ready for leisure, and at all times, the synergy of the security architecture of the state is second to none. You are all reassured that the best is yet to come.”

Punch/Taiwo Akinola

Transportation

No Going Back on Okada Ban -Lagos State Government

By Web News 768

Pandemonium broke out, yesterday, at the Alaba-Rago area of the Mile-2-Badagry expressway in Lagos, after commercial motorcyclists, popularly called Okada, took over the busy road to protest the eviction letter served to occupiers of the market to quit in two weeks.

The Okada riders, who misconstrued the visit to be enforcement of the ban on motorcycles, as directed by the Lagos State government, set up bonfire on the expressway and dared policemen to invade their territory.

The report on the enforcement of the ban on motorbikes spread across the state, with motorcyclists in some parts spoiling for a showdown with the Police.

Vanguard gathered that for several months, there had been negotiations between the state government and representatives of occupiers of the Alaba-Rago market, over the modernisation of the market.

However, a report on the activities of criminals using the market as their hideouts reportedly prompted the state government’s move to give occupiers of the market a deadline to vacate the place.

Some eyewitnesses said immediately after the Task Force handed the letter to a representative of the market, commercial motorcycles blocked the highway, preventing the free flow of traffic.

They were alleged to have also brandished dangerous weapons in preparation to match the police fire-for-fire.

Vanguard learned that policemen from the Area E Command and divisions under the command visited the scene to control the situation. 

On sighting the policemen, the commercial motorcyclists hauled stones and other dangerous objects at the policemen.

Several motorcycles, which were used to barricade the expressway, were seized by the policemen.

Some traders hurriedly closed for the day for fear of their shops being looted.

One of them, Mr Biodun Okenaike, who spoke with newsmen, said: “We had to close our shops for the day because of the gunshots. The first time the policemen came, it was peaceful. We welcome this development because if security agents had done the needful, this area would have been sanitized. Often times, when the criminals steal, they run into the market and that would be the end of that matter. 

“Though some leaders have done their best to curb the excesses of these criminals to no avail, most of them sleep in the market and commit atrocities at night.”

Before the chaos, the Commander RRS, CSP Olayinka Egbeyemi and his counterpart at the Lagos State Environment and Special Offenses Unit, Task Force, CSP Sola Jejeloye met the occupants of the market in clusters to inform them of the 14-day vacation order. 

The Public Affairs Officer, Lagos RRS, Femi Moliki, said: “The emerging security reports from the area have shown that Alaba Rago has become a den of criminals. The State Government has concluded plans to modernize the place in the shortest possible time in the best interest of the residents.

Reacting to further disturbances by the okada riders, the Lagos State Government said that it will continue to enforce restrictions on okada.

 In a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information & Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, said that “the seizure of commercial motorcycles by the Lagos State Task Force will continue, despite the June 1 deadline issued by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for them to leave six Local Government Areas. The six local governments are: Eti-Osa, Ikeja, Lagos Island, Lagos Mainland, Apapa and Surulere.

“The deadline does not invalidate the provisions of the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law of 2018, which states that “no persons shall ride, drive or propel a motorcycle or tricycle on a major highway within the State, and any person in contravention of this provision commits an offense” and will be made to face the wrath of the law.

“The Lagos State Task Force, led by CSP Shola Jejeloye, has continued to enforce the law. It seized 238 motorcycles in Lekki on Tuesday and Wednesday.

“In Iba on Lagos-Badagry Expressway, where it was violently resisted today, the Task Force seized 195 motorcycles. The riders were operating on highways and bridges in flagrant disobedience of the law because, according to them, they are free to ply unauthorized routes till June 1. This is wrong.

“The February 1, 2020 directive has not been reversed. The enforcement was weakened by COVID-19, which affected all areas of life. Now, the action is being reinforced.”

Vanguard/ Oluwayemisi Owonikoko

 

Security

Oyo Assembly Wants Ban On Commercial Motorcyclists Plying Agodi GRA Roads

By Web News 875

The Oyo State House of Assembly has called on the state Ministry of Public Works and Transport , the Police and other agencies of Government to restrict motorcycle riders, known as okada, Tricyclists and Commercial drivers from plying Agodi GRA roads and other adjoining roads.

It also called on the Police and other security agencies to mount surveillance in the area to reduce the activities of armed robbers, car and bag snatchers and other criminals.

The House made the call following the attack on a 45year old man around Secretariat-Agodi Government House road, Ibadan on Monday by suspected armed robbers who rode on Motorcycle and later dispossessed their victim of cash.

Member representing Ibadan South West 1 State Constituency, Mr Yusuf Adebisi raised the need for the ban on Tuesday at the floor of the house under Matter of Urgent Public Importance.

The lawmaker recalled that a man was macheted last week in the same area by men of the underworld who pretended to be seeking for free ride.


Other lawmakers including Mr Seyi Adisa representing Afijio state constituency described Monday’s robbing and killing of the said man right at Agodi GRA area as a high security risk

The House after series of deliberations urged the Police in collaboration with officers of Oyo State Road Traffic Maintenance Agency (OYRTMA) to put inscriptions showing restriction of movement on the said roads and that any Okada rider, Tricyclist or commercial driver who flouts the order should be made to face the full wrath of the law.

The Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Mr Adebo Ogundoyin said it was a bad commentary that armed robbers operate with impunity and kill their targets on Agodi GRA road and its adorning road.


Cov/Mosope KEHINDE

Transportation

We will control influx of Okada and Keke – OYRTMA Boss

By Web News 941

Oyo State Government has pledged to strictly control the influx and operations of commercial motorcycles in the state following the ban of operations of commercial motorcycles in neighboring Lagos state.

Executive Chairman, Oyo State Road Transport Management Authority (OYRTMA), Dr. Akin Fagbemi said this in an interview with newsmen in Ibadan.

Dr. Fagbemi while noting that the agency awaits the position of Governor Seyi Makinde on the proscription or otherwise of motorcycles within the major highways in the state said OYRTMA was on top of its game.

Dr. Fagbemi disclosed that OYRTMA has put in place measures to have a central database of all commercial cabs, tricycles and motorcycle operators within the state to identity operators and their vehicles.

He said measures were at an advanced stage to kick-start the routing of all commercial cabs, tricycles, and motorcycles across the State. 

This according to him would enhance easy identification in cases of stolen vehicles/motorcycles, road crashes and operational axis.

Similarly, Dr. Fagbemi said with the support of sister security agencies, OYRTMA would continue with its “Special Operation-one-Passenger” (SOOP), which directs motorcycle operators within the state to carry only one passenger as against the common practice of two or more passengers.

The statement added that the operation, which started January 2020, has brought to book with over two hundred offenders who are presently facing Mobile Magistrate Court for legal adjudication and sanctions if found guilty.

Iyabo Adebisi