Many Lagosians woke up Monday morning with great horror as they had to face the realities of trekking long distances before getting to work. The state government had announced that Motorcycle riders and Tricycle operators will no longer be allowed on major highways starting from February 1.
Meanwhile, Lagos residents have taken to social media platforms, especially Twitter to share photos and videos of their experience as they commute to their destinations.
A Twitter user put a sarcastic slant to the issue with a terse statement.
”OHorse app now available on Google store. From Eko Hotel to Ajah, N3,000,” she tweeted.
Another said: “I went through hell this morning trying to get a bus to convey me to Eko Hotel from CMS. On a regular day, I take a bus for 100Naira or 150Naira but on getting to the bus stop today, it was an eyesore and I eventually paid 500Naira to get to Eko Hotel.’
“If you’re putting out a policy that will change some certain systems and procedures, a good test run of alternatives should have been done and certified. Not the other way round!! Mr Governor you’re not doing well.”
Also Read https://adebaconnector.com/sanwo-olu-bans-okada-tricycle-and-more-in-lagos/
Many have taken to the streets in protest demanding that the government renege on this unpopular policy as it was going to deprive them of their livelihood. There was pandemonium in Ijora in the early hours of Monday as well where police officers clashed with angry residents, setting tires ablaze and causing huge traffic.
Gbolahan (9h)
@QdPaper Ah! Horse ti lazzdent ooo🙆🏻♂️🙆🏻♂️😂😂 #OkadaBan #OHorse
Ifeoma (13h)
Life working in Lagos is hard enough why add #OkadaBan to make every thing worse . So ☹️
Watchout Naija (13h)
Right now I just feel like declaring for Governor of Lagos State promising to lift #OkadaBan and #KekeBan and even introduce free transportation for school kids
KING CULE (14h)
All those horses roaming close to Richmond estate in Elegushi will finally get busy this period #OkadaBan
Restriction of poor people
The Lagos state government has cited “chaos and disorderliness” and “scary figures” of fatal accidents as reasons for the ban.
Passengers have been queuing up across the city for commercial buses whose operators have hiked fares to take advantage of soaring demand.
Ride hailing companies, Gokada, Max.ng and Oride have also been affected by the ban.
Chinedu Azodoh, cofounder of Max.ng, says their bikes are above the 200 cubic centimeter engine size banned under the law, and that he had not heard directly from the government. But a ban, he says, amounts to “a restriction on poor people.”
In June, Gokada told Reuters that there are an estimated 8 million okada drivers operating across Nigeria. A chunk of that number operated in Lagos.
Trucks filled with the okada have been photographed departing Lagos since the ban .
—
Julius Olumide Oyekunle
Like Our Story ? Donate to Support Us, Click Here
You want to share a story with us? Do you want to advertise with us? Do you need publicity/live coverage for product, service, or event? Contact us on WhatsApp +16477721660 or email Adebaconnector@gmail.com
