Lagos Okada ban, its Socioeconomic Consequences

by Chinedu Nnawetanma

On February 1, 2020, the ban by the Lagos State Government restricting all forms of motorcycles (excluding those used for delivery services) and tricycles from operating in key commercial and residential areas of the state officially took effect. Though well-intentioned, the timing and blanket nature of this ban have left much to be desired.

Among the reasons given by the Lagos State Government for imposing this ban was the rising spate of insecurity in the state. The government has argued that criminality in the state was facilitated by the use of motorcycles, popularly known as Okada, as a getaway means by hoodlums.

Also blamed was the crippling traffic gridlock that most parts of the state have been forced to grapple with in recent times during the morning and evening rush hours. The state government also argues that commercial motorcyclists and tricyclists have contributed in no small way to the state’s traffic malaise due to their wanton disregard for traffic regulations.

If these were the issues, one wonders how the ban would provide a sustainable solution. For instance, these motorbikes often provide easy transportation for commuters in Lagos State, especially during those gridlocks, ensuring that they arrive at their destinations on time and save the economy man-hours that would have been lost in traffic. They also keep hundreds of thousands of low-skilled Lagosians away from criminality by providing them with a legitimate source of income.

If the Lagos State Government really wants to arrest the traffic situation in the state, it should look towards employing more sustainable avenues with less radical socioeconomic consequences. These include the completion of the Lagos monorail project, expansion of road networks, ban on street trading, relocation of roadside markets and motor parks and construction of parks for articulated vehicles.

The real cause of the traffic nightmare currently being experienced in the Lagos metropolis is the population explosion. The state’s existing road networks can no longer cope with the daily influx of vehicles as more and more people continue to relocate to the state from other parts of the country.

Similarly, if it wants to tackle insecurity, it must beef up its security apparatus and change its modus operandi from reactive policing to proactive policing through intelligence gathering. It should also create more employment opportunities that will keep Lagosians gainfully employed by incentivizing the private sector. All these and more should have been put in place before the ban to cushion the socio-economic impact.

Government policy is a major enabler of economic growth around the world, especially in developing countries like Nigeria. The government’s primary role in the economy is to create an atmosphere that enables the private enterprise to thrive through the formulation of business-friendly policies. More importantly, its ability to maintain a consistent and cohesive set of policies over long periods of time by formulating long-term policies rather than short-term, stopgap ones is key to buoying investor confidence.

Investors are attracted to stability, consistency, and predictability and they flee from instability, inconsistency, and unpredictability. Time and again, governments in Nigeria have demonstrated just how easy it is for one administration to overturn the existing policies of its predecessors overnight. The inconsistency of policies scares investors and accounts for the low inflows of foreign direct investment (FDI) and foreign portfolio investment (FPI) into the country.

Investors who backed motorcycle-based ride-hailing startups in the state like ORide (OPay), MAX and Gokada – who are also affected by the ban – would now be counting their losses.

What it means: Other startups operating in the state and the country at large, irrespective of the industries they play in, would now face an uphill task convincing investors to fund them. A trend that may emerge in the Nigerian venture capital space is a preference for small-ticket short-term investments and profit-taking over long-term investments.

By Chinedu Nnawetanma IG/Twitter: @chinedugn

https://nairametrics.com/2020/02/08/lagos-okada-ban-its-socioeconomic-consequences/

At a time u landed on population explosion, the population coming into lagos to take up okada and Keke driving is much

And about 70% of them are not Nigerians thereby putting the population and security of lagos at a very big risk ,

Crime rate in Anambra reduced immediately they ban okada in the state , cos most of the riders are not from the state , as much as these guys are not mostly from Nigeria it's a very big risk from security side ,

At earliest stage we will all feel it , but it was a good decision by the lagos state government

Meanwhile they are coming without their wives and children, who them go marry for here , the locals of course !!

The traffic in Lagos now na die......everybody's car is on the road.....even those who use theirs only on weekends......I have no issues with the Okada ban......but still trying to understand the reason for the keke ban......saying its insecurity........keke drivers are mostly southerners.......so the theory is still not in order

Dammmmn Nigggaaar

Fvck all dem modafuckers who are not happy with this development, All real niggars will be happy with this ban, I get 3 corolla for road on hire purchase wey I dey use do Uber...I dey even think of to increase the weekly remittance of my drivers because these guys dey run me street badly.

They make up to 50k in a day because of the ban meanwhile their weekly remittance na 30k, but as a real nigga I will not go back on our agreement

The Honest truth is okada and keke business kept a lot of Nigerians LAZY...

Now people are growing up with ambition of riding okada/keke.

People are leaving Vocational skill aquisition for keke and okada riding..

When a carpenter quits to riding okada
When a tiler quits to riding okada
When a plumber quits to riding keke..
Mechanics quiting to ride okada..

It destroys the future.

I no sure say this ban reach Mile 2 o.

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Enough if this okada protests

The ban has come to stay and its FINAL

They still have the luxury of taking their bikes to the Ban Free areas.

I don tire to dey horn every 20secs for Ajah bridge biko

That's the issue I have with You poor masses you people think we all have the same problem....... Some of us live on a private island and have to use a chopper or a luxury boat to get to the mainland area. Now you people want to crowd the water ways the only place I and my friends go to chill with lesbians damn.... Guess I have to move further into the Atlantic

Still waiting for more comments from those living in Lagos State

Say No to Okada

Took me almost 3 hours to move from Berger to Ijaiye on Thursday. This ban on okada has suddenly increased the number of cars on the road in the sense that, those who would rather take bikes to their place of work to avoid being late are now going with cars now


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l know they will adapt,thats Nigerian for you

Meanwhile

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Mheen! The ban no be here. You need to see people trekking from Ikeja to Agege yesterday. Traffic sef no be small thing. Last last we go dey alright. Heard there's serious talks with lagos state government to stop the ban especially tricycle.

Ok

Nobody is talking about bicycles as alternative means of transportation. Bicycles are massively popular in many countries like china and in Europe . In Bamako, Mali they even have dedicated bicycle lanes. Lagos state govt can encourage use of bicycles, for example among students and low- income workers. A bicycle lane, similar to Brt lane, can be created on major riads.

Waiting for the sanwo foot soldiers to disproof .

They thought that it's only our aboki brothers that will be affected but they don't no that we will always survive. Now they are suffering more

There is always a reason to ban poor man means of happiness

Na so

Esseite:
The Honest truth is okada and keke business kept a lot of Nigerians LAZY...

Now people are growing up with ambition of riding okada..

People are leaving Vocational jobs for Okada and Keke driving.

u learn trade. And cant rent shop, no light to power equipments etc. U say mk dem no ride bike