BY BOSE ADELAJA
Lagosians call it ban while the government says it is a restriction order of commercial motor-cyles popularly called Okada on 475 roads in Lagos State.

Coincidentally, the Lagos State Traffic Bill hurriedly emerged shortly after one of the registered motorcycle associations, All Nigerians Autobile Commercial Owners and Workers Association ANACOWA, obtained judgment in its favour over the Lagos State government from a Lagos High Court.

This move has continued to generate controversies from people from all walks of life especially those who patronise the riders.

As if the new law is not enough, the State government came up some days back and announced its intention to arrest passengers who are found riding on the restricted areas in the metropolis.

As a result of the restriction order, some law enforcement agents have capitalised on this to feed fat on erring riders.

A fortnight ago, a trailer load of Okada was spotted exiting the State at Ojodu-Berger area of Lagos for the Northern part of the country as their owners claimed the Law was too harsh on them.

A visit to some major roads in Lagos revealed a lighter traffic situation different from the usual traffic although there were many commuters at various bus-stops as most of them used to be Okada passengers.

One Mrs Olaoluwa Akintoye said government ought to have provided shuttle buses and fix the roads before the restriction order.

“I wonder why law enforcement agents could restrict motorcycles on Capitol Road area of Agege.

The government could have provided shuttle buses and fix the road before enforcing the restriction,’” she said.

Another commuter in Lagos Island Mr. Osuolale Waheed said the development has reduced the rate of armed robbery in the State.

As the popular saying goes that; One man’s meat is another man’s poison, the three wheelers popularly called Keke Marwa operators in the State have received more patronage since the law took effect.

A trip around some roads in Lagos revealed a long queue of passengers at some tricycle parks who have taken over the business of some motorcycle operators as the restriction order has put them off business.

Also, there have been sharp criticism of the restriction order; some see it as political while others see it as a move to curb the unforseen.

Meantime, in a bid to achieve its aim of restriction, the State government might have adopted the artificial scarcity of number plates of commercial motorcycles which of course is a punishment of tri-cycle operators and the owners,’’ claimed Wasiu Adekunle who has been shunting from one local government to another, yet unsuccessful.