THE Arewa Community in Lagos State has resolved to comply with the directive of the Lagos State Government to ban the activities of okada riders in some areas of Lagos effective from Wednesday, June 1, 2022.
The decision was contained in a 9-point communique issued at the meeting of the Lagos State Arewa Community (LASACOMM) General Assembly held on Sunday, May 22, 2022.
The communique, which was signed by the Secretary-General, Lagos State Arewa Community, Alhaji Musa Saleh, reads; “The restriction of Commercial Motorcycle (Okada) operators in some local governments in Lagos State is not a new law.
"It has been in existence for over 10 years. We resolved unanimously that all our members must comply with the provisions of the laws of Lagos State.
"We are law-abiding and we will always continue to intimate on all our members to continue to be law-abiding and operate only within the ambits of the law.”
The community said that they support all measures taken by the Lagos State Government in the efforts to protect lives and property in Lagos.
They also condemned the activities of all criminal elements, whom they said were mostly foreigners from Niger Republic, Chad, Cameroon, and other neighbouring countries.
“They have infiltrated the ranks of genuine riders and thereby perpetrating all forms of crime in Lagos state and are constituting serious threats to the lives and properties of Lagosians,” they said.
While calling on the security agencies to identify and arrest criminals parading as Okada riders, they also tasked the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to step up its actions along the borderline to check the influx of those foreign elements coming into the Country without genuine intention.
“We are in total commitment and support to the administrative policies of the Lagos State Government in getting rid of all security threats, promoting peace and tranquility, safeguarding lives and properties of Lagosians, and the massive provision and development of infrastructures facilities for all Lagosians.
“We are calling on all well-meaning Arewa Community members to comply with our common resolve and avoid the Local Governments of Apapa, Surulere, Lagos Island, Lagos Mainland, Etiosa and Ikeja.
“We will work with the Lagos State Government and the Association of Arewa Okada Riders towards the implementation of extant rules and documentation of all riders in all Local Governments of Lagos State. We must have adequate data on everyone.
"We call on the Lagos State Government to be vigilant and take proper punitive measures on bad eggs within the security agencies," the statement continued.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin in a tweet on Saturday, May 21, 2022, warned motorcyclists and passengers to not flout the ban directive as they will both be persecuted.
“Under the new total ban of motorcycles in six local government areas of Lagos State, passengers and riders alike will be arrested and prosecuted.
“The passenger is an accomplice. Ignorance will not be an excuse!" the tweet reads.
