The ban on operations of commercial motorcycles (Okada) and tricycles (Keke) by the Lagos State government has further exposed the inadequacy of public transportation system in Nigeria’s largest sub-national economy.
By 7:30 am and even earlier in some parts of the state metropolis, hundreds of commuters were seen stranded on the roads, while some resorted to trekking, as Okada and Keke disappeared from the streets, as the ban became effective on Saturday, February 1, 2020.
Ikeja, Surulere, Lagos Mainland, Lagos Island, Apapa and Oshodi/Isolo are some of the local government areas where the effect of the ban is biting hard.
The state government last week banned Okada and Keke from operating within the urbanised local areas of the state, including Ikeja, Surulere, Oshodi/Isolo, Apapa, Lagos Island, Lagos Mainland, among others, citing increasing accidents, loss of lives, insecurity and disregard to the Lagos State Road Traffic Law of 2018 as amended as some of the reasons for the action.
Okada and Keke have over time become the major means of public transportation in Lagos, where the population is estimated to be about 22 million people, but lacking adequate means of mobility.
In the absence of rail and effective water transportation systems, road accounts for nearly 98 percent of movement of persons and goods in Africa’s largest mega city. The result is intractable congestion.
Every day, especially at peak traffic hours (early mornings and evenings) thousands of people are seen climbing motorcycles or hopping into tricycles to beat gridlocks, a major feature in the metropolis.
On Adeniji Jones, Ogba, Awolowo Way, and other major roads in Ikeja, the state capital, BusinessDay observed stranded people at bus stops, especially from Ogba bus top to Excellence Hotel, as the yellow commercial buses became inadequate for the number of commuters in need of their services.
However, in some parts of Ikotun, in Alimosho local government area of the state, Keke were plying freely, while Okada disappeared.
