The Lagos State Government has commenced the process of crushing 3, 000 motorcycles, popularly called okada, impounded from their owners for violating traffic law.

Officials of the state Taskforce on Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit on Tuesday dismantled the okadas at the task force yard in Alausa.

The Taskforce Chairman, Bayo Sulaiman, an Assistant Superintent of Police, said after the end of the dismantling exercise, the iron parts would be taken to the state Crushing Plant in Oshodi, where they would be crushed and recycled.

He said the action was to show that the government had stepped up its enforcement of the state traffic law, adding that the crushing of the okadas would serve as deterrent to other commercial motorcycle operators.

Sulaiman said, “These are okadas impounded since the new traffic law was signed into law. There are 3, 000 of them. Okada riders must obey our traffic law. They are fond of driving against traffic, on kerbs and several unauthorised places. The law has been passed and gazetted and there is no going back on its enforcement.

“We are dismantling the okadas now to separate the parts that are crushable from the ones that are not crushable. After this, we will take the crushable parts to Oshodi crushing plant, where they will be crushed and recycled. The non-crushable parts will probably be auctioned, but not in the state.

“The Taskforce has not started enforcing the law fully. But this should serve as a warning to them because we won’t hesitate to impound any okada caught on the restricted roads in the state.”

Sulaiman, however, said there were no riders to be prosecuted because the owners of the 3, 000 okadas abandoned them on sighting law enforcement officials.

On Monday’s protest by some of the riders, Sulaiman said, “They have the right to protest, but the government will be firm in what it does. It does not in any way stop our job, those who intend not to obey the law, we are coming after them. The protest is a group action, but our arrests will be one after the other and we will be out there on a daily basis.”

According to him, the law has been passed and those who will not obey the law will be punished.

The task force boss, however, said the law’s compliance level was improving on a daily basis. He advised the riders to go to areas where their operations are not restricted.
http://www.punchng.com/news/traffic-law-lagos-destroys-3000-seized-okadas/

eko o ni baje lai lai o

Centre of Excellence, we lead and others follow. Eko o ni ba je

Fine Move this Okada men should understand that we are supposed to be civilised!

This is a warning to other traffic offenders!

Osiris.211:
Centre of Excellence, we lead and others follow. Eko o ni ba je

You people are just too far ahead.

3,000 people are now jobless

This is too harsh joor! No be person sweat be that? Imagine crushing your car because you violated a traffic law.

No need to bash fashola and tinubu on this o.any state dat wants to develop must pay a steep price.remember india

Senseless Act

Enough said ....I wonder what goes on in the mind of those supporting the action. Yes the riders are rough and a nuisance but then they do not constitute any more nuisance than they would toting a gun, axe or sledge hammer lying in wait for the rich on 3MB.

Sad enough that the same politicians who during their campaigns introduced the giving away of motorcycles to entice the youth into voting for them, turn around and deprive them of their newly found livelihood.

Funny enough, I doubt any of those who are praising, formulated the policy or crushing the bikes can boldly say they've never ridden on any before. If you've not then i challenge you cast the first stone .....rubbish!

mekaboy: LEAD IN WHAT?

I HOPE YOU KNOW THAT EACH OF THOSE OKADAS REPRESENT A FAMILY, A CHILDS SCHOOL FEES, SOMEONES DAILY BREAD. AND AN OPEN DOOR FOR ARMED ROBBERY, KIDNAPPING AND INSECURITY.

SO WHEN YOU NOTICE THE INCREASE OF ARMED ROBBERY IN LAGOS, DONT ASK WHERE IT CAME FROM. ITS ONE OF THOSE OKADAS YOU SEE THERE. THOSE CAUGHT OFFENDING SHOULD BE MADE TO PAY A FINE, INSTEAD OF DESTROYING THEIR MEANS OF LIVELIHOOD. ITS NOT LIKE GOVT PAYS WELFARE TO SUPPORT ANY CITIZEN, OR THERE ARE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, WHERE YOU CAN EASILY WALK IN AND GET A JOB.

THOSE OF YOU PRAISING GOVT FOR THIS, SHOULD NOT BE SURPRISED, WHEN A PREVIOUS OKADA RIDER COMES TO ROB YOU AT NIGHT.

ihebrooke: This is too harsh joor! No be person sweat be that? Imagine crushing your car because you violated a traffic law.

Thank you, I wasn't happy reading it. Very silly move.

naija anything goes...global warming, flooding, hope lagos govt have done Environmental Impact Assessment for burning these bikes n tyres.

I perceive tyranny....be prepare 2 welcum d outcome of ur brutal behaviour fashola, I dnt support dis

waste of resources. i hope they recycle

Fashola for 2015!

New Bike cost over 100k, lets assume after depreciation.. now: 70,000 x 3000 = 210M....

Ye pa!.. is fashola and his boys alright at all?... If they are so adamant about upholding the law, they should start by first executing all thieves in the Govt. Starting with Tinubu... !... over 210M, that belongs to hustlers.... people that are not sure of morning food.. people with 3-5 kids... which kain rubbish be this!

The punishment is too harsh.we know there is always a price to pay for development 2 take place,but at least the source of livelihood of indigenes should be considered.

Is always easy to destroy.

Brainrex: 3,000 people are now jobless

over 3000 peoples lives are now spared,wat do U think?

Its so obvious most of u didnt read d article well. D officer stated clearly that the okada riders on sighting d officials dumped their bikes. They knew they've offended...and why would u break d law in d first place when u aren't insane/ mad? Would ur bike be seized if u obey the law?
Most of us are used to lawlessnes that any new law is seen as draconian!

mekaboy: LEAD IN WHAT?

I HOPE YOU KNOW THAT EACH OF THOSE OKADAS REPRESENT A FAMILY, A CHILDS SCHOOL FEES, SOMEONES DAILY BREAD. AND AN OPEN DOOR FOR ARMED ROBBERY, KIDNAPPING AND INSECURITY.

SO WHEN YOU NOTICE THE INCREASE OF ARMED ROBBERY IN LAGOS, DONT ASK WHERE IT CAME FROM. ITS ONE OF THOSE OKADAS YOU SEE THERE. THOSE CAUGHT OFFENDING SHOULD BE MADE TO PAY A FINE, INSTEAD OF DESTROYING THEIR MEANS OF LIVELIHOOD. ITS NOT LIKE GOVT PAYS WELFARE TO SUPPORT ANY CITIZEN, OR THERE ARE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, WHERE YOU CAN EASILY WALK IN AND GET A JOB.

THOSE OF YOU PRAISING GOVT FOR THIS, SHOULD NOT BE SURPRISED, WHEN A PREVIOUS OKADA RIDER COMES TO ROB YOU AT NIGHT.

GOVERNMENT IS NOT BANNING OKADA RATHER THEY ARE ASKING U TO BE CAREFUL AND OBEY THE LAW WHILE DOING THE LEGITIMATE BUSINESS

Biggyd2: Fashola for 2015!

Shattap. This is economic barbarism.

hmmm....he forgot that does okada riders where the ones he use for campaign,they voted for him.

this is hw he want to pay them back,because lagos state didn't win the case okada riders sued them he is now imposing useless trafic laws to banish them..

Considering our penchant for lawlessness in this country especially on the roads, I commend the Lagos state government for bringing in the new traffic laws. However, I feel that instead of destroying 3000 Okadas, they should have been auctioned off to interested buyers who might want to take up the Okada business; this way some people start earning a livelihood and the government makes some money. The money made by the government can then be used in training the successful bidders on the traffic laws and how to be better road users before their okadas are handed over to them. My two kobos

There should be a flat fine of N10,000 OR forfeiture for Okada violation. once a few of them loose money they will start acting right. Destroying their source of livelihood like someone said will lead them to frustration an desperation. as much as i HATE Okada. This punishment is far too harsh.

btw has anyone seen the list of roads they are banned on. It would have been easier for the government to just ban okada. all roads in Lagos island, lekki -epe express way. etc. That's why its dangerous to have too many lawyers in government - Legally restriction does not equal to ban....

...

The motto of the ACN (Asiwaju Company of Nigeria) is driving people down the poverty line. In Ogun state, ibikunle amosun sacked 2000 youths employed by ogd when he was leaving. In oyo state, ajimobi sacked over 3000 workers for alleged forgery of results. Just yesterday, adams oshiomole sacked 20 teachers for coming late to school, when there are teaching service rules which stipulate the reasonable punishment for coming late to school. Oshiomole did not issue queries to the teachers. He did not hear from them at all. He just sacked them. Now, fashola has sacked 3000 okada riders by destroying their okadas. In nigeria, one working person has an average of 3 to 4 people attached to him because of the high rate of unemployment. Cutting off the head can never be the solution to headache.

nkem Kalu: GOVERNMENT IS NOT BANNING OKADA RATHER THEY ARE ASKING U TO BE CAREFUL AND OBEY THE LAW WHILE DOING THE LEGITIMATE BUSINESS

Which yeye law,he is only creating those law to tk them away frm lagos,cos he knows no bdy is above the law,they will surely fall into his trap..now they are falling into his trap,so the best thing he can do is to destroy their means of livelihood?