The Lagos State Taskforce on Thursday continued its bombardment against unruly motorcycle ‘Okada’ riders who are operating on highways and restricted routes after several warnings regarding their operations.
The extensive exercise which took place along Oshodi-Apapa Expressway was led by the chairman of the agency, CSP Shola Jejeloye who disclosed that these raids became necessary after warnings to okada operators fell on deaf ears.
The action by the Lagos Taskforce comes two days after it impounded 355 motorcycles.
Jejeloye described Apapa-Oshodi Expressway as a take-off point for okada operators who violate Lagos State Traffic laws by operating on the highway and in Apapa Local Government Area which is one of the LGAs where Okada operations have been banned.
“We have been to this particular location about twice because of the sensitivity of the corridor and routes it connects. However, our leniency has been taken for granted by these okada operators and perpetrators of illegalities in this area who feel we are oblivious to their activities. We have surprised them today and confiscated all bikes that operate here. I am sure they would have gotten the picture by now”.
Jejeloye described the activities of the Okada operators as despicable, noting that as a result of the large number of motorcycles that congregate along the expressway, they constitute a nuisance and create unnecessary bottlenecks on the highway.
“From the volume of bikes seized you can imagine what this location looks like at rush hour. We have come to put an end to it so that Lagosians can have a breath of fresh air and commute along this axis peacefully.”
Jejeloye addressed illegal merchants of petroleum products who deal in the sale of petrol on the Highways saying that their days of engaging in such illegalities are numbered. He assured them that the Lagos State State Taskforce would swoop in heavily on them till sanity and environmental decorum were restored to the area.
He assured Lagosians that the Agency would keep up with the back-to-back enforcement for compliance exercises across all nooks and crannies in the State till the THEMES PLUS agenda of the State Government is actualised and sustained.
