The seizure of commercial motorcycles by the Lagos State Task Force will continue, despite the June 1 deadline issued by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for them to leave six local government areas.
Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, made this known on Thursday in Lagos.
The six local governments are: Eti-Osa, Ikeja, Lagos Island, Lagos Mainland, Apapa and Surulere.
According to the commissioner, the deadline did not invalidate the provisions of the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law of 2018, which states that “no persons 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 offence” and would be made to face the wrath of the law.
The Lagos State Task Force, led by CSP Shola Jejeloye, has continued to enforce the law.
It seized 238 motorcycles in Lekki on Tuesday and Wednesday.
In Iba on Lagos-Badagry Expressway, where it was violently resisted on Thursday, the Task Force seized 195 motorcycles.
Omotoso said the riders were operating on highways and bridges in flagrant disobedience of the law because, according to them, they were free to ply 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,” he said.
The commissioner said the government praised Lagosians who had come out to support the ban on commercial motorcycles in the six local government areas, which Governor Sanwo-Olu had described as the “first phase” of the action triggered by safety and security concerns.
