•Asks critics to visit victims of havoc in hospitals
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) was on Tuesday the guest of members of the Metropolitan Club in Victoria Island at a special session on law and order in the state. On the occasion, he charged those supporting the unregulated operation of motorcyclists to take a trip to the various hospitals and medical emergency centres to see the havoc wreaked by their activities.
Fashola who spoke at the Kofo Abayomi Road, Victoria Island location of the club on the topic, “Freedom from Fear” in relation to Law and Order in Lagos State said the audience should visit hospitals and emergency wards and see those who had lost limbs, arms, those who had lost children or those who had become orphans by the recklessness of the Okada riders. Noting that a lot depended on the citizenry in ensuring an orderly society, the governor said everyone must build a consensus that the idea behind the new traffic law was one that involved the quality of life of everyone, the protection of the assets of every resident of Lagos and their businesses.
Tracing the various well-organised public transport systems that had existed in the past like the LMTS and LSTC, he said it should agitate the minds of citizens and members of the club how the state arrived at its present state in terms of the unbridled operation of commercial motorcyclists. According to the governor, in less than two decades, the Okadas had gained so much prominence that it had become a phenomenon which should not have been allowed in the first place, stressing that the elite also contributed as many encouraged their employees to run errands quickly with Okada. “The only way to stop the business from flourishing is by not patronising them. It is a business that if the income from it dwindles, the business proposition of those in it will change,” he said. Conducting an overview of various facets of life in the state,
Fashola explained that he had taken it upon himself to lead by example by shunning the use of siren to escape from the traffic, adding that as a governor he had always taken it upon himself to fight against any attempt by Very Important Personalities (VIPs) to close roads and the people must be ready to fight against behaviours and conducts that were hazardous to healthy and secure existence.
The governor who drew a comparative analysis of happenings in distant locations said the state government established the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) to allow people dispose their refuse properly but that the people preferred to still patronise cart pushers who would dump the refuse in a canal by the corner thus causing flooding. “Some people are saying they will not obey the law that protects the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) dedicated lane because they say it is draconian for the government to insist on its enforcement. “This is a law made by the State House of Assembly.
A law that I swore on oath to defend and that is my duty. I make no apologies for doing it and I will continue to do it. If we continue like this, we are on the road to Bangkok in Thailand,” the governor stated. He said there should be concerted effort by everyone to ensure that Nigeria did not reach the notorious status of Bangkok in terms of traffic because Bangkok is a city that loses about $1 million every year to traffic congestion and where the training of the average traffic police officer includes the delivery of babies from pregnant women who are trapped in traffic.
Urging business executives and corporate leaders to rethink the types of ventures being supported, the governor said the tricycles known as Keke Marwa represented the sign of India’s age of poverty which the country was striving hard to move away from as it was now manufacturing TATA buses and wondered why Nigerians were now embracing it wholeheartedly. He added that the same applied to motorcycles, which originated from China, saying currently the Chinese were making fast trains for their usage while Nigerians were helping their economy by patronising their motorcycles.
Noting that those who broke the law with impunity were often more than not, aliens with no respect for rules and regulations, Fashola revealed that in the last 24 hours, over 100 people from Niger Republic had been escorted out of the state, stressing that there was no going back on the enforcement of the state traffic law. Fashola, while speaking on the topic of “Freedom from Fear,” explained that the presence or absence of law and order in any society was what determined whether the people would live in fear or without it. He added that while the Nigerian Constitution guaranteed many rights, there was no right classified as right to be free from fear in the Constitution because freedom from fear seemed to have been the forgotten freedom.
He advocated that the responsibility to give the freedom that secured all freedom lay with every individual who must make it a point of duty to ensure they secured themselves against fear. The governor who spoke on the calibre of members that make up the Metropolitan Club, said they were part of the elite that constitute the few who constitute the critical mass that drove change when ideas manifest. Fashola who also spoke on the last elections in Lagos State said a society did need a multitude to make a difference as the resolve of the elite contributed and brought life to the move to ensure the success of the one-man, one-vote campaign. Urging a resolution on the part of all at the interactive session to become a part of the much desired positive change,
Fashola declared: “If we are to prosper and develop our national economy, we must resolve to leave here today with a consensus to lead as champion of change. I am talking about changes in the way we react to issues, changes in the way we think and in the way we behave.” He recalled that when the administration decided to stop the illegal expansion of Makoko, it was called several unprintable names by different uninformed people, adding that what government stopped was a daily encroachment on the lagoon by the squatters who were daily reducing its size and invariably the outlets for water to drain from various parts of the state.
The governor said if the administration had folded its arms and watched the excesses go on, the structures would have been built up to under the Third Mainland Bridge and someone could have just woken up one day and started displaying items on the Third Mainland Bridge. He reiterated that traffic should not be viewed as a problem but rather a sign of of prosperity in any emerging megacity like Lagos because as more people moved into the city there would be congestion.
The governor, however, explained that the traffic being complained about was the rush hour traffic which was not peculiar to Lagos. adding that in the United States of America, it is better to walk in Manhattan than to drive a car, admonishing that Nigerians should stop feeling sorry for themselves whenever they are in traffic. Giving an insight into some of the proactive steps being taken to manage traffic, he said the State Government has gone a step further by introducing the Traffic Radio to give advanced information to members of the public on how they can plan their trips adequately.
He explained that the new road traffic law has made provision against drinking or driving behind the wheels because government believes that it is only split seconds that stand between the occurrence of fatal accidents as any momentary loss of concentration could have catastrophic consequences. Underscoring the prime role of law and order in achieving a secured and stable society, he noted the fact that the Metropolitan Club has continued to be successful because of the strict observance of its rules and regulations by the members urging that they should do the same when they are outside the Club. Governor Fashola said it is rather ironic that when members of the Metropolitan Club get into the club premises they feel safe, stressing however that the club premises did not make itself safe but was achieved by the members who toiled hard.
He said what is needed from the members as responsible members of the society is for them to transfer that same energy to the larger society. Responding to some of the issues raised during the interactive session that followed his address, Governor Fashola said the government will continue to put measures in place to tackle street trading, but urged the people to also stop patronizing hawkers. On the possibility of using the Bangkok traffic experience as a public enlightenment tool for people to learn from it, the Governor said a documentary drama titled ‘Emi O laaro’ has already been designed and released for the public while he has also taken the campaign for safe driving to various motor parks across the State.
On suggestions that the Highway Code should be a subject of study in schools for children to learn at formative stage, the Governor said Government was already working on how to develop a basic curriculum that would be developed from a book on same subject without encroaching on the basic school curriculum. On the social impact of laws, the Governor said every law goes as far as those who conceived it can think of because given another scenario, a new set of people can bring up something different, he said government will always listen to genuine suggestions on how things could be done better. While enumerating the efforts of the Government in enhancing food security and job creation through agriculture, the Governor said he is reaching out to sister states for land where unemployed people can be deployed to work on farms and produce food that would be brought back to the state to be sold to its teeming population. He said this is in addition to the Agric YES programme through which graduates are trained and given entrepreneurial skills and provided with the wherewithal to practice and produce food.
Earlier in his address, the President of the Club, Chief Olu Akinkugbe commended the Governor for his efforts at transforming the State since he assumed office. He said it was as a mark of respect for the late Chief Ola Vincent who was a former President of the Metropolitan Club that the Governor postponed his first date with the Club. Prominent among state officials at the session with the Governor were the Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Kayode Opeifa, his Health counterpart, Dr Jide Idris and General Manager of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Mr Tunde Edu while among the members of the Club present were Chief Chris Ogunbanjo, Alhaji Femi Okunnu (SAN), Ambassador Dapo Fafowora and Chief Philip Asiodu.
ALL WE ARE PLEADING IS,IF YOU KNOW GOD AT ALL AS YOU CLAIM OGA FASHOLA,GIVE THEM SOME TIME TO PLAN AND LEAVE,SAY 6MONTHS BECAUSE THE OKADA RIDERS HAVE FAMILY AND THIS IS THEIR ONLY SOURCE OF INCOME,MEANWHILE BEFORE THEN YOU REPAIR SOME ROADS AND BRING DOWN TAXI CHARGES SO PEOPLE CAN PAY TAXI 200 NAIRA LIKE ABUJA.
THANKS MY PEOPLE
Eminent, Fashola did not make that robust traffic law for personal gains but to save those poor people riding on okada from being maimed or killed in large numbers by the riders on daily basis, so we should support him to achieve success in this regard in order to have a peaceful and save society.
The menace being constituted by okada riders in Lagos is enormous and it could ground social activities in not too distant future if not checked by enabling traffic laws as passed by Lagos State House of Assembly and signed into law by Governor Fashola.
We should pray that God will continue to strengthen Fashola to complete the ongoing light rail services across the State which is the only sure way to de-congest chaotic traffic situation in Lagos and so also Federal Government should give special status to Lagos in order to meet serious challenges that confront the State.
Lagos State is home to all Nigerians and indeed all Africans and other Citizens from all over the World.
Those dat are debating dat okada riding has cause a lot of accident,dey are GOAT,wat of tanker drivers dat causes accident on highway in ibadan ogun,even in lagos, even d plane crash dat kill 153 on board an on ground,there ar som reckles BRT DRIVERS,causin havoc ln lagos state are dey not acciden y are dey facing okada mush,we should b realistic in dis matter we should not take it 2 personal,d gov shud prov gud roads an provid afordabile car or keke marwa as means of lively hood b4 ban okada
SENTIMENT,period
nice concept fashola
The truth has been spoken. It is in the interest of we Nigerians. True, those who really bastardize the traffic system in lagos are not true Lagosians but visitors from other places. Visit hospitals and see for yourself. You would only end up to say the man (Fashola) cares! Also, those canvassing for the continuous abuse of our traffic system (particularly okada) are the the first beneficiaries, the riders. Shame.
True, I patronize but I know I am taking a risk. Government should protect me more by outrightly banning it and then we shall all see that these so called okada riders would create other means of survival. If wrong or to the detriment of Nigerians, a good government should clamp again….. When it’s time for the state spoilers to leave, they would…….
our governor wel done
i have never seen anyone that wish himself to be okada rider, economic and hardship of the nation pushes people to the business:we have graduates among them to show the level of unemployement of the nation. To ban okader is absolutely right but what are the plans for the riders after they losses their source of income? the people and the govt shd think!!! otherwise robbers and crime will increase. likewise the govt ecourages okader in first place by thier negligent to repair our road which is only accessible by okader only and the business flourished thereafter.
Well said Oga Governor. When are the Tata buses coming on board to carry all the passengers of the Keke NAPEP? When are the Chinese fast train coming to dislodge the motor bike army? How far with the robust trainings, enlightenment campaign on radio, TV, road show, schools, to domesticate the spirit and content of the laws for the people to make the safe choices and shun the okada and keke osmobiles? When will those graduates and others forced into okada business and street trading for survival be offered alternate means of livelihood in a nation of poverty in the midst of flaunted scandalous wealth? When you solve one problem and cause another, you have a responsibility to attend to the new problem you are causing. This simple fact can not be drowned in grammar.
dele,agreed the gov intentions are in order but what are the alternatives his offering,u dont want okada, u dont want marwa, are u bringing BRT to my small street in bariga??
We should do away with sentiments in issues that affect lives and properties,Oga Governor you should send more of these Niger Republic out of the state because Nigerians that engage in okada business has more wisdom and has fear of live,but this mumu from Niger Republics are all zombie’s that has no regards to live, therefore we need to send them back to their country so that their government will give them education. Pls his Excellency do not relent in your effort in eradicating crime in the state.however Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State should communicate with you for the demolition of a building own by a Kidnapper in Lagos state cos I read in Sun Newspaper that a Kidnapper was traced to Lagos by SARS where three was killed in a gun battle,the said house in Lagos should also by demolished and the land should also be confiscated by government.
WE NEED ROSRY LIKE ABROOD.CHANGE NIGERTIA
YES STREET TO STREET TO EXPRESS MAKE A DIFRENT
I m on a crossroad. Gov want to give a better society by making over 200,000 lagosian jobless. What are the basic fundamental right of every citizen. Y cant we have okada lane
One thing is sure, nobody is against Gov. Fashola’s policy on banning okada. What we are saying is that every Lagosian is used to okada. Okada covers bus stops where buses do not reach. People now treks home from work. Where is the alternative to okada?
Mr governor u made a good sound reason. But what are the things u have already made in place before stoping the okada’s. @ list as a wise man before u took such diction put the necessary things in order first. U thought about keke from India bike from China and we nigerians are patronizing them. But we have nothing to produce that other country will also patronize us. Because u people from president to local THE government chairman are only depending on oil. The people u stop not to ride their okada to feed their family i wonder what they may be thinking in their mind now. @ the same tym deploy more mobile force men on the street and road because soon lagos may turn to a jungle state. GOOD………………………. DAY……………………….. MR.. GOVERNOR
The okada riders are they happy to die or involve in any accident? Or even engage in such a risky biz.. But its condition. Anyway, for the fact that we do not good transportation system put in place thatz why they came in being.
SUB: BECOME BITTER KOLA EXPORTER IN SMALL SCALE ( 50KG/500KG )TRAIL ORDER
If you know the exact place to source for this products you have made it.
HINTS :
…Do you know that one Bitter kola nut is sold for one euro in Germany as at March 2012.
…Do you know that exporting Bitter Kola does not require any Machine for processing as it can also be exported raw.
Pls get more detail here, source: http://export-bitter-kola.blogspot.com
Call for info : 08039454675 or 08058499904
Yes Fashola as the Governor of lagos state has good intentions for the state, but some laws are draconian and too autocratic . First and foremost in developed world as we claim or do copy what they do , whenever a new law is enacted to give grace period. This okada riders, can be sustained into the society if well plan, what about giving them training and a workshop on safety and license issued to qualified ones. That will even take in millions for the state. In that way any okada rider seen on the way must have been a qualified one, and routes will be given them where to ply and where not to, than outright ban, a lot of people have vehicles yet they use okada a number of times to meet up. Not to even mention people living in Areas not serviced by any transport buses or taxis , so they should trek to death. One to enact law without proper consultation, aside those okada rider has families to take care and need to earn a living. On the issues of hawkers in some states in America, black guys hawk on the street. And don’t they have such in India , are Indian economy not better than Nigeria ten times, we mustn’t just copy things that are alien we must work according to what is on the ground. Why not focus on areas of infrastructure . In. Lagos general hospital can an ordinary person go for CT scan , absolute NO, cause is not affordable , it means one who needs it and can’t afford should go and die. In other countries the governments subsidizes such. Then why not build affordable open markets where people can pay per day for a stall. . And if the government replicate jakande kind of housing will that be a bad idea. Not at all.
I think Fashola should focus more on this areas than draconic laws that are unnecessary , I heard that drinking and drinking even bottle water is against the law too, what a shame ,in which part of the world has such happened. It means the company’s that manufacture vehicle and put the can/ bottle holders for such are stupid and now it’s Nigerians that are wiser. We must wake up , we are still behaving as if we are in the 70′s.
Fashola is trying in Lagos sure. , we must commend him , but let him focus on people oriented programme that will alleviate poverty not the one that will send more people to poverty .
Sending out poor people from maroko, refilling and selling same to richer people , most who actually stole public funds is that a kind of achievement in a clear way to the state?
Fashola should visit, all the eateries in Lagos , how many of them has good toilets, not up to 5 percent.
Fashola should visit one of the markets closer to even his home or office, and see for himself . Vegetables , meat and what have you are sold on top of gutters , dirty ground , filthy places and yet consumable s are sold there. and what have the department of sanitation do , nothing? Can’t such things be fixed first before other issues like okada, hawkers etc.
Mtn,Airtel,etisalat etc aren’t all of the, doing hawking, in a corporate form , but just because they use long trucks put on uniforms on the girls and they now distribute handbills for them aren’t such hawking in a corporate style.?
Badagry road , is no more road but gully, is badagry not inside Lagos state, even though the road have been awarded, yet is unpassble and in the next one year. The construction on that road wouldn’t have gotten to badagry axis, if the Lagos state govt, fixes it partially to be passable will something befall Lagos?
Let’s wake up in Nigeria and work on programmes that ll help us not copying developed world that pays social security to jobless people for them to sustain themselves until they get a job.
I have told often that motorcycles and tricycles represents poverty. This fact have been buttressed by Gov. Farshola and I can only hope people will listen.
The challenge in Lagos is the lack of a decent transport system. We need to re-engineer transportation in Lagos by making sure that more BRT/LAGBUS are brought into the system that will ply all routes in Lagos. Decent transportation will encourage workers to drop their cars at home. Also, private-public partnership with government should be encouraged towards solving traffic problem in the state.
We say no to poverty stricken transportation medium as human life is too precious. Okadas, keke napep and rickety vehicles must be taken off Lagos roads.
Also those destroying government property and the peace of the state must be arrested, prosecuted and dealt with with all brutality.
U guys re talking lik an individual’s who took oath wit governor. Gap betwen d rich nd poor is too much, wen u stop 3000 okada nt 2 work automatically u denies dem mix of survivin dat means high rate of unemployment is growin, remenba acn of a tin is tribal party which does nt contribut 4 oda ppl growt exept pady pady putin an end to okada is nt d best after all u chose dem to camping 4 u. KNw u wnt to dump dem 4 bad, I which u reside at ikotun nd oda area u wil understand gud may be anoda way of…
Stupid concept ! Before any right thinking person can go on with such idea that affects many lives,adequate plans most have been on ground to compensate for such plans.a sincere government should first made all roads motor able so that taxi can go through them at affordable rate and also provide enough taxi on roads.u used china and india as example but I must tell mr governor that in china we have good roads every where and taxi to take u every where.though government still tries to take okada off the roads yet will stil have them but minimal.
You can’t just make up laws that will have negative effects on ppl and tell me that u are defending laws that u swore to defend.you banned okada what plans did u put in place for such bans yet some stupid ppl here that enjoys from such blanket bans are here praising you as a genius.do u know the amount of hardship u have caused to those that depend on okada to survive,do u know how long one can now walk to his house from major bus stop because no buses ply such street or roads and no taxi in sight,even if seen it’s so expensive.what about numerious pot holes every where that caused traffic even if u decide to go with ur car.if this governor that every one praised is the best governor we have in this country then this country has a long way to go.a right thinking governor will first fix such pot holes and make sure it’s done properly,put enough taxi on our roads,give jobs to those that their jobs are about to be stopped,it’s not such a big deal because in this country we have the money but few ppl in power are sitting on them and looting them.sir pls don’t compare china with Nigeria any more or u should pay a visit to mayor of Guangzhou and ask him how he govern such a big city with a population that is even more than that of entire Nigeria.
Honestly speaking, whether we like it or not Okada still remain one of the most dangerous tools against our collective security of lives and property in Nigeria. Let us forget about lack of employment and job security we have been peddling as excuses here. For instance in Plateau State, since the state government summoned courage to ban the operations of Okada rider, the security rate has increase tremendously. If Lagosians believe that ban on okada mean the end of world for them, I will therefore plead with Gov. Fashola to release the embargo placed on okada operation. But mark my words, very soon Lagos will be overrun by terrorist and fearless robbers.
And as for those that still believed that government can meet everyone needs, I will advice you wake up from your slumbers as such things doesn’t happen again any where in the world. However, I will also advice the teaming okada rider in Lagos state to go back to their local community to engage farming. That is next focus of government across the world, inclusive of Federal Government of Nigeria!
Well done my Action Governor, carry go, you are on a rigth track. 100% in support of your action.
Governor Fashola, you have made the right decision but the manner and approach of the ban is too sudden and insensitive to the plight of the people. the ban should be carried out in phases, may be over a period of one year. The present situation is like 5million people(okada riders) losing their jobs and source of income in lagos. crime rate will inevitablly escalate. The private riders are even affected. I wonder how this people will even fuel their bike cos they need to cross to the road to purchase fuel as no filling station is located within the streets and in the process they will be nabbed. May God take control of the situation.
Your Excellency! appreciated we know you are trying to sanitize the system in order to improve on traffic congestions in Lagos as well as to save lives. Commended also is your effort by already sending these illiterate Nigerien s in okada business back to their country. But my concern is that a whole lots of Nigerians into this okada business are matured family men and unemployed graduates who ventured into this business for no other options just to eke out a living. So as it is now what’s up next for them! Honestly we Lagosians patronize them due to terrible traffic snares in almost all Lagos roads to enable us get early to office and back home at the close of the day. On traffic, you need to observe sea of heads of okada operators and their passengers on Ikotun-Egbe-Cele Express road during early morning rush hours and evenings. Motorists groan and spent up to 3hrs on this road on a journey that would ordinarily have lasted for just 30mins. This road is very bad coupled with over whelming population and over whelming road users on this corridor. Your Excellency! this road beggers for your attention it has been neglected for so long, same goes to Apapa-Oshodi Express Way especially at Trinity-Coconut expanse. If the Fed.Govt has turned their back on this all important road that houses two major ports the MMA International Airport and Wharf/TinCan sea ports even after many years of media attention, please tell them to close it. Finally as the peoples’ Governor initiate an alternative policy that will engage the disengaged okada riders.
The fact remains dat banning okada & keke napep wil drastically reduce d number of patients in d Orthopaedic & Emmergency wards in various hospitals as was d case wen okada was banned in Abia state.That is good for Lagos as any fracture case,not to talk of head injury, takes nothing less than 3months to heal properly while d patient lies in bed wit a lot of money being spent. Coming bak to Abia again,wen okada was suddenly banned by our non performing Gov T.A Orji,those that sell okada lost a lot of money as there was no prior notice to change their line of business,some died of shock and Stroke due to High Blood pressure. Okada riders themselves had no means of lifelihood, some joined armed robbery while those who had money went n bought keke Napep that was being sold by d state Govt at very high price of 450k. Others went bak to their former jobs such as mechanic,watch repairing,barbing etc. The point is that, even though Lagosians wil soon adapt n get over these trying times,d Governor shd hav provided more buses & taxis to sell to these keke & okada riders at subsidized prices after proper training in driving,to help them sustain their families as wel as help d general public who need their services. All fingers are not equal,we cant all afford our own private cars. Let’s avoid creating more problems(increasing poverty level) while trying to solve anoda. After all we voted, hoping to get better people oriented projects. It is well.
Even if my comment will not be published i know someone would read it .This banning banning is so millitaristic. Give them a year or two to make plan for other means of survival while other efficient means of transportation is put on board .
Sometimes i wonder if someone who had not lived abroad will be able to rule Nigeria effectively. I know many laws they have enacted in SA here and how they gave the masses time to adjust. Nigerian case is quite different.
I supported the idea to stop Okada because there is nothing like Okada in many froeign and western countries. But I suggest that Governor should give the Okada people one or two years to plan themselves or else more thieves and criminal activities will increase more in Lagos State because those Okada riders will not afford to live without means of getting money……. So governor should give them one or to years to find something else doing before pushing them out from the state totally
Mr Governor easy, stoping Okada is good but in the other hand is bad, pls make sure we can afford taxi fair. Nigeria want to be like America and co overnight, think about those that voted you in and try make their life better.Ur Grammer is too much for them to understand, pls we are not in Law court. This is democracy so you have to hear the people out, don’t judge by what you colleagues said, because their life is the same with yours, ask people in the street how they will feel if Okada is stoped?
Gov.Fashola should be giving honours for trying to stop the Okada business. If any of us have ever visited a private ward in some known hospitals around, you will agree with me that Okada should be abolished just as some uncivil customs are abolished in any community.
Lets give Fashola the thumbs up and support him in eradicating the state of this menace of the Okada riders.
It will help in saving more lives but at the same time, Gov.Fashola should make provisions for the Okada riders because if not, criminalities will set in and people will become victims of some sort in the hands of the Okada men.
When one wants to deprive another of his means of income, he should make provisions for other outlets of income for the person.
Oja,or what ever u call urself,think about the negetive aspect of this before showering ur praises on mr governor.
Most of you guys spoke intelligently which means there’s hope for this country.
Firstly the governor said he swore to defend the law which sounds noble,but how can u make inhuman laws and still defend such to the people who voted you to where u are?man is greater than any law that’s heartless.
Secondly the people in metropolitan club represents a minimal fraction of lagosians,I would have expected you to visit oshodi inside to see for yourself how many streets are not motor able cos bikes struggle on them.it’s such a pity u make wicked laws saying okada is sign of poverty.i wonder what you expect as transportation in a country ranked one of the first five poorest in the world.God have mercy.
Our able Governor Fashola we must give you award for caring for our dear lives. God bless you and reward you with long live. Amen.
Note that the people you are given two yrs to adjust are all Niger Republic,they shld go back to their country and earn a liven,if they leave this country we will have very little men in Okada business that will not constitute nuisance. Okada Business must stop,the Youths shld go and learn handwork for future and not engaging in Okada business cos it is going to affect their individual life’s at the end.Government should try and create a workshop to educate the youths more on the need to engage in handworks for better tomorrow if they can not go to school cos of high cost of education introduced in nigeria by OBJ
Lagos State Govt is doing the right thing on the Okada syndrome. If these riders cant abide by the rules in Lagos they can move to Ibadan or other places.
Its so rampant that illiterates are overtaking the order of the day in our society. They build stalls anywhere, they turn open spot into motor garages. Somebody got to put a stop to this disorganization and uncivilized lifestyle.
Thanks Gov Fashola, Okadas are eyesores.
Yea, and some people ain’t know what others ‘re passing through. All you’ve stand up to say is this, kill them before they grow.
I said this at the earlier time, but you are not God, Mr. Gov’nor, hope you will leave all you have one bright morning and may not even have time to say bye to your supporter. Change, you better change
For God’s sake,time has come for us to stop criticising every policy that the Lagos state government is introducing. I think the questions Lagosians should be asking should be’what is the motive of this action ?’ ‘How much Security intelligence does the Lagos state government have to necessitate this action ?’ Is this action going to lead to greater safety and security of the state ?’
For the avoidance of doubt,the nuisance value of these Okada riders can not be overemphasised. Again,we should understand that more than 80% of these so called Okada riders are made up of young men between the ages of 18 & 25,and from a certain area of the North.These boys could be used by their mentors(of Northern extraction) for some sinister reasons in the future,which ultimately can cause Lagosians their safety. Today,if Boko Haram wants to make an inroad into Lagos,these Okada riders will become ready tools because they know,and have very good mastery of the geography of the state. So,Governor Fashola should be commended for his foresight. These boys should return to where they came from please.Gov Fashola,congrats and more grease.
Help the masses to help security. I believe if they are jobless the will be alot of crimes. Mr Fashola help the state
FASHOLS IS A DICTATOR .
Developmentally, Nigeria is no where near the Indians and the Chinese. Nigeria cannot even manufacture a bicycle, talkless of motobike or keke marwa.
Are we going to force the Indians or the Chinese to bring their plants to Nigeria to start manufacturing Tata buses or Speed train for us?
We cannot have our cake and eat it! If the government knew it would not tolorate the okada people in large number, it should have controlled their registration. But to register them en-mass, collecting huge revenue in the process only to turn round to trouble them is not fair.
I am not against the law aimed at regulating them. Those that flout the law should be dealt with. But for goodness sake, why destroy the bikes seized from them? Do we have the technology to manufacture motobikes? Why destroy what we cannot create?
His Excellency has said that they would go out of business if they are well patronized. He should have sensitised the populace in this wise and wait for his effort to yield result instead of this arbitrary action.
If some of these okada operators are indeed robbers, what they would simply do will be to recruit more from the army of those who have been deprived of their source or livelyhood and we will all be in trouble.
Since the Governor said there is no going back, my advise to the populace is to prepare for war against armed robbers.
Oh Lord, help me to replace my wooden door with a steel door! At least, it would give a little sense of safety to my family. This is because, armed robbers will soon be on the prowl. Good Lord, deliver us!!!
Nigerian, the best option is let Federal Government of Nigeria develop every States in the country or let Nigeria be divided so the devilish laws and Stupid philosophies due to economical concentration in Lagos State will stop. My question is, is it that Lagos State has made a law or the Governor had swore to legalise ebgero area boys in Lagos State? Or to ban okada just simple for him to do than to remove ebgero on Lagos roads?
FASHOLA should stop compared lagos wit USA bcos in USA they hav road network and their citizen are live well unemployement is killing nigeria stil yet u are punished the poor. BEWARE u are causing more HARM than GOOD OOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHH
The same FASHOLA increase the lagos state university fees from 25000 to 250,000 tell me what are the POOR benefit from FASHOLA GOV. Other state are reduce school fee to help the commcn people but in lagos state u should remember the gov is not ur papa house. I think u are not stronger than gadaffi of libya. God dey.
Life will become beautiful to u if u become netcontacts member, and earn legitimate money by each person u invite, l.e netcontacts is all about inviting people to become netcontacts member, each person u invite using ur invitationcode, will pay u N1500 into ur acct, 4 u to activate their membership is real, that is invite atleas 100people in a month, and earn N150,000 4 more details visit http://www.netcontacts.com.ng/invitation/?invitationcode=329899355 call me 4more details 08052975810
Commentaries concerning foreigners or strangers doing business in Lagos is parochial and is uncalled for.
From time immemoriam, it is strangers or foreigners that always bring development to a place.
I have a vivid picture of most parts of Lagos State when I arrived in 1973.
Natives are usually the descendants of hunters, farmers and fishermen. Their ancestors bequited large expanse of land to them which they always left fallow because they lack ideas and wherewithal to develop it.
Strangers would come with funds and ideas and develop the place. (read deed of assignments and see what I am talking about.).
They would employ the natives, train them on the job and pay taxes. It is foreigners that would come with their technologies and establish industries in place. Our oil would still have been lying cool under the earth without foreigners. We simply do not have the technology to discover and extract them.
Now, will it be fair to declare those foreigner unwanted after they have done all these things which have brought development to the natives? definitely not.
Nigerians, including Lagos State natives are in other states or countries eking out a living for themselves.
There is nothing wrong in being in another state or country to earn a living for oneself provided your activities are legal.
As for those saying that some people affected by this okada restriction should go back to their former trade or farm, thie view simply does not hold water. Every individual adult has the right to do any type of legitimate business of his or her choice.
I HOPE THIS WOULD CLOSE THE DEBATE ON THIS SUBJECT.
My only problem with Okada riders is this idea of, if you have problem with one rider on the road, you are in trouble, before you know it hundreds of Okada will surround you, if care is not taken they will lynch you or better still vandalize you and you care. If they cannot stop that useless behavior, please Mr Governor ban them. We will feel it at first but soon we will get use to it.
Imo State ban them, Owerri is still moving.
nice plan in the world the best way to stop traffic is to have many transportation system and good road if our governor can fulfill his promise is good i believe we can go further here in south african their is nothing like okada for transportation is just for pleasure wish him best of luck
Governor,you people must always think before you act..if you stop these okada people what do you expect them to be doing?so many nigerians are abroad because of you government officials that doesn’t care about your citizens…because you are not in their shoes,you don’t know what these guys face on daily bases
I know Governor Babatunde Fashola would remember the days of Ojuolape and the retroactive laws by Muahammed Buhari and how that history still taints his political future as a sadistic tyrrant.Sir,our Governor,we not only mobilized people to vote you in,we were part of the strategists that brought you and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to power, today our only plea is that you should think of four things :-
(A) A WAY OF TRAINING THE PSYCHOLOGICALLY STABLE RIDERS
(B) HELP THE HIGH NUMBER OF WOMEN AND HELPLESS CHILDREN WHOSE LIVELIHOOD DEPEND ON THE FUNDS BROUGHT BY THEIR PARENTS /GUARDIAN FOR DAILY UPKEEP
(C) THE ADVERSE EFFECT THE LARGE NUMBER OF PERSONS THAT WOULD BE PUSHED TO ROAM AND IDLE AWAY IN THE SOCIETY BY VIRTUE OF LOSING THEIR JOB OF OKADA RIDING- ARMED ROBBERS,KIDNAPPERS,FRAUDSTERS.ETC
(D) THE VARIOUS AREAS CARS AND OTHER ARTICULATED VEHICLES CANNOT REACH BUT OKADA- HOW DO PEOPLE GET THERE? I KNOW YOU LISTEN AND THINK LIKE A REASONABLE MAN,SO PLEASE LEARNED ONE,DO THE RIGHT THING.THANK YOU
I agree with the governor 100%. Us folks appear to want to live like animals, without any decency and orderliness. Carry on with the reforms with full throttle.
Gov Fashola is wicked, evil and vindictive. How can somebody ban people from okada riding when he cannot create single job. Fashola is a fool and an idiot. We have seen how he has been packing people into traillers and 911 vehicles and sending them to head bridge Onitsha and other places without considering that they are human beings like him and need good life the way he need it. Those people Fashola is packaging and sending out of Lagos are they not part of Nigeria. In short, Fashola and his ACN govt is useless and foolish. It will never be well with Fashola for suffering innocent poor people. God will judge badly for his atrocities against poor people who he supposed to help.
Solving a problem by creating another.Fashola and his lawmakers should be ready to enact another law that will solve the social security challenge already invited by this anti-okada law in Lagos.Time will tell.
BRF is not banning the Okada operation in Lagos state outrightly. Lagos govt has just restricted their routes to minimize incessant loss of lives and criminal activities. Hence, whoever flouts the order should be seriously dealt with.
I am in support of the Governor. No going back. My suggestion dear Governor is that the passengers are the ones to be arrested while the Okada riders are allowed to go. When the passengers who have decided to encourage the riders to disobey a state law are dealt with they will stop taking okada and that way the okada riders will go back to the basis and do some other responsible trade. It does not have to be armed robbery as people seem to suggest to them that without okada it is armed robbery.
Those human rights activist encouraging them should do the right thing by ensuring that they abide by the simple laws and orders operating in the city.
I don’t think Babatunde Fashola is a bad person but he’s not reasoning. He’s only looking at the disadvantages of okadas. How about the advantages. Not everyone has the money to be entering taxis. He can try to curb okada accidents and then this will help. Not that he should ban the use of okadas. This isn’t right. Plus the okada riders will now start stealing. He’s not helping to reduce the rate of thieves and armed robbers. Fashola should think twice because this is totally unfair.