Okada Ban: I never Said I Would Not Ban Okada – Sanwo-Olu

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has said that he never promised not to ban commercial motorcycles (Okada) in the state.

A video had resurfaced online where the governor spoke at an event, The Platform, about the activities of Okada riders.

Speaking to PREMIUM TIMES on Monday, Mr Sanwo-Olu, through his chief press secretary, Gboyega Akosile, said he never promised not to ban commercial motorcyclists (popularly known as Okada) from operating in the state.

“When the governor was talking on The Platform, he didn’t make any categorical statement about whether there would be a ban or not,” Mr Akosile said.

“He said that ‘we will look into it. We will see whether we will use technology or even categorise them…’ Everything he said was not categorical. It wasn’t only at The Platform he said that; he said it at several events.”

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The governor’s spokesperson said the state government had only decided to enforce the existing laws in the state.

“What we have only done is to start up enforcement on the existing laws, we have not come out to say we are banning. You cannot ban people’s commercial activities, the government has the responsibility, due to one reason or the other, to regulate.

“Go to the UK, Uber is a major transportation company, U.K government banned them due to regulation issues, so if Okada people had constituted a menace to the society, security.

“You and I are not safe and our research has shown that 85 per cent motorcycles. The government went to the drawing board to know what can be done. If we do that it won’t be easy for any criminally minded people carrying put dastardly acts to escape.

“If you see the number of at the hospitals you will be shocked and all of this is Okada. We had to create an Okada ward.”