As the Governor Akinwunmi Ambode administration hits the ground running in governance of Lagos State, the state government has issued a 21-day ultimatum to motorcycle popularly known as Okada riders and their tricycle counterpart to vacate all restricted routes in the state or face the full wrath of the law.

This was made known to newsmen by the Secretary to the Lagos State Government, Tunji Bello, after a consultative meeting with the leadership of the various associations of both the motorcycle and tricycle riders in the state.

At the meeting, the State Government frowned at the recalcitrant attitude of the operators, who flout with impunity the stipulated procedures guiding their operations.

The State Government, according to Bello, would not allow a return to the recent past before the enforcement of the 2012 Road Traffic Law where crime rate and road accidents caused by unruly motorcycle riders were prevalent.

While directing the associations to call their members to order, Bello insisted that thought the State Government realised their value and contributions to the economy of the state, they were restricted on 475 roads out of 9100.

Adding that their value led to the government’s refusal to outrightly ban the use of motorcycles for commercial transportation like in some other states, he warned that the operators should not test the might of the State Government.

On their part, the leadership of the motorcycle and tricycles operators thanked the government for taking them into confidence, promising to pass the message to their members and carry out their own enforcement before the 21 days deadline.

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