Commercial motorcycle operators, otherwise referred to as okada riders, took to the streets on Friday to protest the ban on their activities in some local government areas by the Lagos State government.
According to the declaration by the state government, the ban takes effect from Saturday, February 1, 2020.
The protest match took the okada riders from Ojota area of the state to Lagos State House of Assembly, Ikeja.
The protest was carried out by okada riders operating under Gokada, Max and 1st Ride among others.
The commercial motorcycle operators called for a regulation of their activities instead of the ban.
Besides, they said the ban was arbitrary; a situation which they said had no place under a democratic setting.
They pleaded that the government should suspend the ban and take a second look at the effect the action would have on the lives of those involved.
Said Mr Steve Orajiaku of 1st Ride company while addressing journalists: “We are not happy with the way the ban was done.
“We believe we are running a democratic government where a decision of this sort, very crucial to the lives of people, irrespective of whatever the reason is, is about to be taken. The stakeholders were ignored. It is unfair.
“We are here to say that the decision that Lagos State Government has taken should be suspended for now, we are pleading.
“What we are here for is not to cause any mayhem, it is not to also insult your personality, we are here because we are law-abiding citizens.”
Also appealing to the government, Uche Ekemiri of Gokada said the operators had upgraded their bikes, and undergone intensive training as requested for by the government, hence they should be given the opportunity to work.
“I don’t see reasons they should ban us. This is what we do for a living,” he said.
He added: “Our bikes have tracking devices and camera. We went for blood and eye tests. Government should call us and see the possibility of regulating us.
“We pay tax to government and we are ready to have license; government just woke up one day and banned us.”
The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, in his response, urged the protesters to be law abiding, promising that the legislative house would look at their complaints.
Represented by Mr Bisi Yusuf, representing Alimosho Constituency I, Obasa said: “Protest is an ingredient of democracy. We commend you for the peaceful demonstration. We will go through your petition.
“However, we urge you to keep cool and keep to the law, until we call you back. Government has made pronouncement on the issue. Don’t allow anybody to hijack the protest because you will be held responsible for it.
“Very soon, we will call you. Maintain the law. It is when the government sees your conduct that they will know what to do.”
