Okada restriction: Fashola says no gain without pain

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI, ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH AND MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

LAGOS — Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, yesterday, urged residents of the state to endure whatever inconveniences the restriction of commercial motorcycle operators popularly called Okada riders from the state metropolis might have caused them.

Fashola who made the appeal at the 2012 edition of the Lagos State Community Day Celebration, held at the Police College, Ikeja, theme: ‘The Role of Community Development in Tackling Security Challenges in Nigeria,’ said that the problems were characteristic of the introduction stage of every life -changing law and policies of the government.

He, however, assured the residents that the legislation would be of great benefit to Lagosians in the long-run.“There will be no gain without some pain attached to it. And every resident of Lagos should be ready to sacrifice for the reward that would come in a short time.”

Okada Riders…

“Every time we inconvenience you because we are constructing a road, or building drainages, within a short time you begin to drive on the road and see your environment flood free by the next rainfall.”

According to him, “Okada will not be our transportation model in this state. Other states have banned it and heaven did not fall in those states. Our state will not be a dumping ground for motorcycles. But instead of banning it in Lagos, what the government has done was to restrict their operations on 475 roads out of 9,000 roads.”

He emphasised:“I think we have been extremely generous with the new road traffic law. What we want from residents is some sacrifice.”