The Lagos State Task Force, led by CSP Shola Jejeloye has continued to engage both commercial vehicle drivers and motorcyclists in Lagos State, even as it vowed to continue the seizure of commercial motorcycles popularly known as Okada on the state’s highways despite the June 1 deadline issued by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for them to leave six Local Government Areas.

The Street Reporters Newspaper gathered that the Task Force has arrested sixteen persons for obstructing the operation of the team in the Iyana Ipaja area of the state.

According to Task Force Chairman, Sola Jejeloye, the operatives were in the area to enforce the removal of illegal parking which causes heavy traffic along the corridor.

He told newsmen that the team was met with strict resistance from the commercial operators while the windscreens of their operational vehicle were smatched by the drivers.

CSP Jejeloye added that those arrested have also been charged to court following the incident.

June 1 Deadline Won’t Stop Enforcement on Okada Ban

Meanwhile, the Task Force has disclosed that the seizure of commercial motorcycles by the team will continue, despite the June 1 deadline issued by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for them to leave six Local Government Areas.

The six local governments are: Eti-Osa, Ikeja, Lagos Island, Lagos Mainland, Apapa, and Surulere.

The Task Force Chairman, CSP Jejeloye disclosed that the deadline issued by the state Governor does not invalidate the provisions of the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law of 2018, which states that “no person shall ride, drive or propel a motorcycle or tricycle on a major highway within the State, and any person in contravention of this provision commits an offense” and will be made to face the law.

To this end, the Task Force has continued to enforce the law, seizing 238 motorcycles in Lekki on Tuesday and Wednesday.

At Iba area of the Lagos-Badagry Expressway, the Task Force was violently resisted on Friday as it seized many commercial motorcycles in the axis.

The riders were operating on highways and bridges in flagrant disobedience of the law because, according to them, they are free to ply the unauthorized routes till June 1.

“This is wrong. The February 1, 2020 directive has not been reversed.

“The enforcement was weakened by COVID-19, which affected all areas of life. Now, the action is being reinforced.

“Commercial motorcycles are banned on all major highways in Lagos State”, the Task Force said.

Such highways where motorcycles are banned include Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Oworonsoki-Oshodi Expressway, Lagos-Ikorodu Expressway, Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, Eti-Osa/Lekki-Epe Expressway, Lagos-Badagry Expressway, Funsho Williams Avenue, Agege Motor Road, Eti-Osa Lekki Coastal Road, Iyana-Ipaja Bridge Agege, and Dopemu Bridge Agege.

Others are Airport/Ikeja Bridge, Agege Motor road/Oshodi Loop, Oshodi, Mushin/Isolo Link Bridge, Dorman Long Bridge, Ojuelegba Bridge, National Stadium Flyover, Apapa-Iganmu Bridge, Apapa-Ijora Link Bridge, Liverpool Bridge, Apapa, Mile 2 Bridge-Loop, and Amuwo-Odofin, Okota (cele)/Ijesha Link Bridge.

Motorcycles were also banned on Apakun/Apapa-Oshodi Bridge Network, Ikorodu Road/Anthony Clover leaf Bridge, Trade Fair Flyover Bridge, Festac/Amuwo-Odofin Link Bridge, Flyover Bridges along Alhaji Masha Road, Ojota Clover leaf Bridge, Ogudu Bridge, 3rd Mainland Bridge, Maryland flyover, Ikeja General Hospital Flyover Bridge, Kodesoh Bridge, Oba Akran, Ikeja, Opebi Link Bridge, and Sheraton-Opebi Bridge.

Also on the list of banned highways for motorcycles are the Jibowu/Yaba flyover Bridge, Carter Bridge, Lagos, Bariga-Ifako Bridge, Apapa-Oshodi Expressway/Alapere Bridge, Bariga/Oworonsoki Bridge, Apapa-Oshodi Expressway/Gbagada U-Turn, Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Third Mainland/Oworonsoki Bridge, Eko Bridge, and Apongbon Bridge.

The government praises Lagosians who have come out to support the ban on commercial motorcycles in the six local government areas, which Governor Sanwo-Olu has described as the “first phase” of the action, which has been triggered by safety and security concerns.