By Ayo Kehinde
Few hours before the official ban on motorbike, popularly called KekeNapep and tricycles, locally called Okada, from operating on major roads in designated areas in Lagos state, takes effect, branded tricycles owners have mounted a protest against the government to rescind the ban.
According to the Lagos State government, tomorrow, February 1, is the effective take-off date for the restriction of their movements to designated areas in 15 out of the 20 local government areas of state, mostly on bridges and highways.
Avoidable deaths put in the thousands, recklessness and distraction from doing meaningful work that contributes to the state’s economic growth are reasons the government has given for the ban
A statement from Lagos state on Friday said the ban was also intended to push young people into finding better jobs because “Okada is not an enduring trade”:
“Our youths no longer learn the trades we used to be proud about of – tailoring, bricklaying, printing, painting and others. Now we get artisans from neighbouring countries,” it said.
But the protesters, mainly from the branded tricycle companies, namely Gokada, Maxi, O Pay, are saying they have evidence to counter government’s claim that their trade is highly accident -prone and they are low on the ladder of insignificant contributors to the economic development of the state.
With banners as “Family Man, Not ‘Roughian’ ” and “Over 2million Trips Zero Fatality”, the protesters in branded green and yellow helmets and jackets matched through the streets demanding revocation of the ban. The protest took them to the House of Assembly, where the Speaker Musashiru Obasa received them and prevailed on them to be orderly in their conduct and obey the new law while their request was being looked into.
