Seizure of motorcycles will continue despite deadline, Lagos warns

The Lagos State Government has warned that the seizure of motorcycles in restricted areas will continue despite the June 1 deadline set by the state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

Punch Metro reported that the governor announced that motorcycles are banned indefinitely and totally in six local governments including Ikeja, Surulere, Eti-Osa, Lagos Mainland, Lagos Island, and Apapa.

The enforcement of Sanwo-Olu’s order by operatives of the Lagos State Task Force in the Ojo area of the Lagos-Badagry Expressway led to the seizure of about 150 motorcycles, leaving commuters stranded on Thursday morning.

However, the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, on Thursday evening revealed that the clampdown will continue despite the June 1 ban set by the governor.

He said, “the deadline does not invalidate the provisions of the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law of 2018, which states that “no person 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 will be made to face 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 today, the Task Force seized many motorcycles. The riders were operating on highways and bridges in flagrant disobedience of the law because, according to them, they are 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.

“Commercial motorcycles are banned on all major highways: Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Oworonsoki-Oshodi Expressway, Lagos-Ikorodu Expressway, Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, Eti-Osa/Lekki-Epe Expressway, Lagos-Badagry Expressway, Funsho Williams Avenue, Agege Motor Road, Eti-Osa Lekki Coastal Road, Iyana- Ipaja Bridge Agege, Dopemu Bridge Agege, Airport/Ikeja Bridge, Agege Motor road/oshodi Loop, Oshodi, Mushin/Isolo Link Bridge, Dorman Long Bridge, Ojuelegba Bridge, National Stadium Flyover, Apapa-Iganmu Bridge, Apapa-Ijora Link Bridge, Liverpool Bridge, Apapa, Mile 2 Bridge-Loop, Amuwo-Odofin, Okota (cele)/Ijesha Link Bridge, Apakun/Apapa-Oshodi Bridge Network, Ikorodu Road/Anthony Clover leaf Bridge, Trade Fair Flyover Bridge, Festac/Amuwo-Odofin Link Bridge, Flyover Bridges along Alhaji Masha Road, Ojota Clover leaf Bridge, Ogudu Bridge, 3rd Mainland Bridge, Maryland flyover, Ikeja General Hospital Flyover Bridge, Kodesoh Bridge, Oba Akran, Ikeja, Opebi Link Bridge, Sheraton-Opebi Bridge, Jibowu/Yaba flyover Bridge, Carter Bridge, Lagos, Bariga-Ifako Bridge, Apapa-Oshodi Expressway/Alapere Bridge, Bariga/Oworonsoki Bridge, Apapa-Oshodi Expressway/Gbagada U-Turn, Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Third Mainland/Oworonsoki Bridge, Eko Bridge and Apongbon Bridge.

“The government praises Lagosians who have come out to support the ban on commercial motorcycles in the six local government areas, which Governor Sanwo-Olu has described as the “first phase” of the action, which has been triggered by safety and security concerns.”