Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, has supported the ban in some parts of Lagos on commercial motorcyclists, also known as Okada, and tricycles.
Speaking on Thursday at a public lecture organised by the United Action for Change in Lagos, Mr Fashola recounted an incident which occurred in 1999 to back his position on the ban.
“If you are concerned about security you must support the present Lagos governor now on Okada ban. As the Center of Excellence, motorcycles should not be our choice of transport,” he said.
Fashola added that the use of Okada makes youths not to explore other productive ways of generating income.
Do we stand in reacting mode or proactive mode. If reacting, there is already a victim and a criminal. If we are proactive then how long can we sustain that?
“Motorcycles are means of peddling drugs to children even under the watch of parents without knowing. I’ve always held this position. Motorcycle has always been a conduit pipe for the opioid crisis among youths. We must act to eliminate anonymity
“I was robbed in my home, in fact on my bed in 1999. Organised crime is dynamic, criminals are aware that people don’t keep money at home again, now they diversified into kidnapping people for ransom,” he said.
Fashola also restricted the use of Okada in some parts of the state during his eight-year tenure as Lagos State governor.