Indications have emerged that the Lagos State government may well be on the path of success with its recent decision restricting commercial motorcycles and tricycles from operating within certain local governments across the State as it has recorded its first voluntary compliance by O’Ride, one of the major motor bike hailing operators. According to a terse statement released in Lagos on Friday by the company less than 24 hours to the enforcement, it stated that O’Ride will not be operating in all the local government areas where the state government has restricted motor cycles and tricycles from plying. It would be recalled that the Lagos State government had on the 27th of January, 2020 announced a restriction on the operation of motorcycles popularly called Okada and tricycles popularly known as Keke across the state. The State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotosho, had in a statement said the decision was taken after a “robust assessment” between the government and the state security council.The assessment focused on the safety of using motorcycles and tricycles as a means of transportation. The statement said the casualty figures arising from their use are “scary.” The restriction, according to the statement, will be enforced in 15 local governments and local council development areas across the state. They are Apapa LGA and Apapa Iganmu LCDA, Lagos Mainland LGA and Yaba LCDA, Surulere LGA and Itire-Ikate and Coker-Aguda LCDAs, Ikeja LGA and Onigbongbo and Ojodu LCDAs, Eti-Osa LGA and Ikoyi-Obalende and Iru/Victoria Island LCDAs, and Lagos island LGA and Lagos island East LCDA. Full Statement “According to the latest traffic policy by the Lagos State Government, effective from February 1, 2020, ORide Riders will not be operating in the following areas: Ikeja, Surulere, Lagos Mainland, Lagos Island, Eti-Osa and Apapa. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this might cause, as we remain committed to providing the best riding experience. Thank you for riding with us.” The Lagos State Government has however emphasized that the new policy is set in stone and enforcement across the state will begin today the 1st of February, as scheduled.
