By OLASUNKANMI AKONI, DOTUN IBIWOYE & MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

There is confusion among Lagos residents over the status of the Lagos State Traffic Law signed by Governor Babatunde Fashola two years ago.

*Some commercial motorcyclists during operation

The general belief is that the state government is relaxing the law particularly as it affects the restriction of Okadas on major highways.

It is even said that the government has instructed law enforcement agencies to look the other way when they see Okada riders on restricted roads.

No plan to relax Okada restriction– Govt

But the state government, at the weekend, said it has no plan to review the 2012 Law, especially the aspect banning commercial motorcyclists from plying major highways and bridges.

Special Adviser to Governor Babatunde Fashola on Information and Strategy, Mr. Lateef Raji, said the clarification became necessary following rumours that the state government had concluded plans to review the law. Political motives are insinuated for the rumoured action.

According to Raji; “Our attention has been drawn to sponsored insinuations, most especially in the social media, stating that the administration of Governor Babatunde Fashola has concluded plans to review the Road Traffic Law 2012, especially the aspect concerning the restriction of commercial motorcyclists from plying major highways and bridges in the Centre of Excellence.

”This is far from the truth. This administration does not have the intention to reverse itself on this important issue now or in the immediate future. The reason is simple. By enacting the Law of 2012, we have made considerable gains in discharging the primary responsibility of government to our people in the area of protection of life and property.

“We would like to further state for the records that the decision to regulate the use of commercial motorcycles on our highways was not a unilateral decision but a response to popular demands by members of the public, who have been at the receiving end in their daily interactions with the commercial motorcyclists, okada operators.

“Altogether, there are 9,100 roads in Lagos State. Motorcycles below 200cc are restricted on only 475 of these roads, which represent 5.6 percent of roads in Lagos. The result and impact of this decision have been tremendous.”

The Special Adviser added that prior to the enactment of the law, the state was recording an average of 16 motorcycle-related deaths across the state every month and an average of 646 injured patients from motorcycle related serious accidents at state’s secondary and tertiary hospitals.

Raji continued; “As at March this year, our statistics show only 1 to 2 motorcycle-related deaths and less than 100 motorcycle-accidents related injuries in a month. No doubt, we have all the reasons to thump our chest that we have been responsive and responsible in the discharge of our duty to the people of Lagos.

“We know where this misinformation is coming from, and the objective it is meant to achieve. We will say it for the umpteenth time, contrary to what they say, ours is the only government that has given recognition to the use of motorcycle as a means of commercial transportation through the instrument of the law and regulations meant to protect the riders and the generality of the citizenry.

“We are very much aware that in some jurisdictions controlled by the sponsors of this malicious propaganda, they have, through the instrumentality of raw power, banned outright the use of motorcycles.

“The reason and motive of the sponsors of this unpopular agenda is obviously to set the stage for roguish conduct in the 2015 election. Their action is not altruistic but sinister. Their subtle and malicious campaign is to aid their sinister plots of fomenting trouble and snatching ballot boxes with the use of Okadas during the forthcoming general elections. Such evil plans will have no place in Lagos.”

Raji, therefore, enjoined Okada riders to go about their lawful duty by obeying all the provisions of the traffic law, especially those that restrict them from certain roads, those that compel them to always wear crash elements, not ride with more than one passenger, not carry a child below the age of 12, not carry a pregnant woman or a passenger who is also bearing a load on his head while riding, among others.

While explaining that all the measures are obviously for the safety of all, the commissioner added: “They should also not ride against the traffic (one way) or run red light for the overall safety of all road users. All incidents of wrongful arrest or oppression by law enforcement agencies should be promptly reported, individually or through Union Executives, to the Attorney General’s Office or Office of the Public Defender for prompt action. The duty of a responsible government is to protect life and property, and this we shall continue to do through the Road Traffic Law 2012.”

Group accuses govt of partiality

The United Nigeria Sovereign Conference and Alternative Movement (UNSCAM), whose members include all drivers of commercial buses, Keke NAPEP, Motor bikes (okada) said the Lagos State government has succeeded in removing the okadas from the highways but deliberately left the touts at the bus stops and public parks.

According to UNSCAM’s Chairman, Comrade Mordecai Adekambi, the touts in Lagos state make in excess of N 30 billion annually and their activities go unchecked by the government, a trend he said has a negative effect on the drivers, passengers and other factors associated with transportation.

He said the Lagos State Government should “amend the law and ensure resumption of registration of motor cycle and tricycles in the state, especially as the aim and essence of the law is almost defeated as the police and law enforcement agencies now see it as a revenue channel.

“There is no government presence in all the public parks. There is not one single social amenity in any park in the state for the single reason that the government has abdicated its responsibilities by transferring the creation, maintenance and collection of dues to the touts against the dictates of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in Section 227 and Fourth Schedule of the Constitution of the country.

“All forms of unfair and arbitrary exploitation of drivers/commuters, increase in transport fares along with the brutal extortion in the name of various collections should stop. The state government is over-executing the law on ‘okada’ riders and they should treat the touts the same way they treat the motorists.

The group also claims that the state government has failed in monitoring the excesses of the law enforcement agents especially the, Lagos State Transport Management Authority, LASTMA.