By Ebun Sessou

In 2012, the Lagos State Government passed the traffic law banning motorcyclists (Okada) and tricycle (Keke Marwa) operators from major roads in the state. This was as a result of the alarming rate of accidents on the roads as well as increase in crimes as many robbers were operating on motorcycles.

Major highways where these motorcyclists and tricyclists have been banned include Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Oworonshoki-Oshodi Expressway, Lagos-Ikorodu Expressway, Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway and Third Mainland Bridge. Other routes are Eti-Osa/Lekki –Epe Expressway, Lagos –Badagry Express-way, Funsho Williams Avenue, Agege Motor Road and Eti-Osa/Lekki Coastal Road. The law therefore became necessary in order to ensure sanity in the state. The law enforcement agents seized the initiative and on the date of the deadline given the commercial motorcycles to vacate the roads, the police commenced full enforcement of the law as they started seizing the motor cycles that flouted the law. The police however left the tricycles alone.

Unfortunately, the same ‘Okada’ and ‘Keke Marwa’ riders who were banned some years ago have returned to those highways in full force and operate with impunity. They now operate in Lekki, Ibeju Lekki, Oshodi/Apapa Expressway, Badagry Expressway and several other places.

They drive against the traffic, they do not regard the traffic law and above all, they do not observe the traffic light rules and regulations.

A resident, Mr Johnson in Ibeju-Lekki who spoke with Saturday Vanguard argued that most of these Okada riders were not educated about traffic rules as they ventured into it without having any knowledge of what they were going into doing. He said, “I spoke with some of the Okada riders and I find out that many of them are not educated. They do not even know what traffic law or traffic light rules and regulations are. It will interest you to know that some of these people have abandoned their jobs for Okada riding”.

A business man who resides in Second Rainbow area of Lagos, Mr Lucas explained that, “the restrictions of Okada on the major routes was a good initiative but I have noted that the Okada riders returned to the roads immediately after the ban. Every attempt to sanitise and restore order to the chaotic Lagos traffic should be made. That is what any responsible government should do”.

According to Mr John, a journalist in Victoria Island, “most of these Okada and Marwa riders are reckless. According to the traffic law, the commercial motorcyclists and their passengers are mandated to wear standard crash helmet for full protection, they should carry only one passenger, but should not carry children and pregnant women, and should not operate beyond 8.00pm in Victoria Island, IKoyi and Ikeja and 10.00pm in other areas of the State.

“They should be aware of what is behind and to the sides before manoeuvring. They should look behind, and use mirrors if they are fitted. When in traffic queues, they should look out for pedestrians crossing between vehicles and vehicles emerging from junctions, or changing lanes.

They should also position themselves so that drivers can see them in their mirrors and in slow-moving traffic they should take care and keep their speed low. Unfortunately, these people do not know all these or better put fail to observe these rules and regulations.