Lagosians have asked the state government to take decisive actions on some security issues to rein in what they described as a disturbing trend.
Among others, they demanded action against what many described as the menace of commercial motorcycles, otherwise known as okada, kidnapping, armed robbery, cult clashes, and violent assaults.
It was all at a Stakeholders’ Meeting on Security held at the Adeyemi Bero Hall, Alausa, Ikeja, where Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and leading lights in security circles listened to a group of panelists who highlighted the state’s security challenges. In the audience were religious leaders, the Chief Judge, Justice Kazeem Alogba, military chiefs, traditional leaders, community leaders, students, unionists and members of the State Executive Council.
Governor Sanwo-Olu listed his administration’s efforts in security and assured his audience that a decisive action would be taken on commercial motorcycles, which speaker after speaker described as a getaway means for criminals.
Its operators, they said, are unruly, uncouth, rude and brutal. But those who patronise them and the motorcyclists will not be left in the cold.
The government, Sanwo-Olu said, would be inaugurating next week the first and last mile buses, which would ply the routes the motorcycles are plying. Besides, those who have taken up okada riding for lack of jobs were advised to grab the opportunities in agriculture, wealth creation, poverty alleviation and other government programmes.
Sanwo-Olu said the meeting was convened in response to the growing threat posed by some lawless activities to the safety and security of lives in the state.
The governor said the string of lawlessness daily witnessed from the confrontation between commercial motorcyclists and law enforcement agencies required an urgent action, stressing that the government would be announcing reforms in transportation, which will further make changes to the parameters of motorcycle and tricycle operations.
He said, “We have noted with dismay the fact that okada riders are disregarding and flouting the restrictions we imposed on their activities in certain areas of the metropolis. We have also observed with dismay, the ongoing violent confrontation by commercial motorcyclists against our law enforcement agencies.
“Based on all that we have seen and experienced in the past couple of weeks, as well as the increasing threat posed by the activities of commercial motorcycle operators to the safety and security of lives, we will be announcing further changes to the parameters of motorcycle and tricycle operations in the state in the coming days. No society can make progress amid such haughty display of lawlessness and criminality.”
Sanwo-Olu said the state government would be unveiling 500 units of first and last mile mini buses next week as safer alternative means of transportation in checkmating activities of okada riders.
The governor also made it known that the government would fully implement the State’s Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law of 2019 as amended, which will enable the government take over and demolish abandoned buildings and construction sites turned into safe haven for hoodlums and miscreants.
