Crisis is brewing between Lagos State Government and corporate organisations over refusal by the former to approve the operation of the recommended 200CC engine motorcycles. The Lagos Traffic Law 2012 prohibits operations of motorcycles otherwise called Okada on 475 major roads in the state.

Based on this, the government advised courier firms and other corporate organisations, including media houses, using the services of dispatch riders to buy the 200CC engine motorcycles for their business operations.

Following the enforcement of the law, newspaper houses and the courier companies acquired the recommended 200CC engine motorcycles, seeking approval of the Motor Vehicle Administration Agency, MVAA.

But the Commissioner for Transportation, Comrade Kayode Opeifa, added another twist to the law when he said individuals and corporate organisations must apply for the approval before acquiring the recommended motorcycles, which is contrary to the dictates of the law.

The commissioner said he had the power to either approve or withhold approval for the brand of 200CC motorcycles purchased by the companies.

Exercising the said powers, Opeifa has refused to approve the 200CC motorcycles acquired by some newspapers such as This- Day, PM NEWS, National Mirror and others as well as several courier companies. Speaking with our correspondent, an employee of ThisDay newspaper bemoaned what he called ‘show of power’ by the commissioner.

He said the commissioner had refused to approve 12 new motorcycles purchased by the media house. “Virtually all our motorcycles had been confiscated, that was why we purchased the recommended motorcycle 200CC.

But to our dismay, the commissioner insisted that the motorcycles were fake, insisting that he will not approve the letter of authorisation,” he added.
http://nationalmirroronline.net/new/lagos-media-houses-firms-square-up-over-traffic-law/