On Friday, June 3, the Lagos state government began crushing commercial motorcycles, popularly called Okada, which had been seized in the state. This is following a fresh crackdown in May on these Okada from operating in six local government areas – Eti-Osa, Ikeja, Lagos Island, Lagos Mainland, Apapa, and Surulere.

The Chairman of Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Unit, Shola Jejeloye,  said the initiative has been effective since 1st June; “There has been more than 85% compliance; 85% compliance in the sense that we don’t see Okadas on the road, on the express any longer. The number has drastically reduced.” Recalling that the enforcement came into force on February 1, 2020, by the state government, Jejeloye added: “Since then, we have been on it. it’s is just that people believe in violating the law, which I don’t think is good enough in a cosmopolitan city like this.” You can read his full statement here.

Following the ban and punitive measures, Okada riders in the state have protested in various ways, leading to hotspots in the state.

On May 24, we shared general security updates with the public highlighting the impact of the Okada ban within Lagos state. You can read the security update here.

On Tuesday, June 7, there were news reports confirming that Okada riders clashed with Police and Taskforce officers at Luth/ Idi-Araba area of Lagos. Bonfires were lit on roads as the police mobilized security forces to prevent further escalation. Here is a video of the incident.

It is clear that Okada riders’ protests against the ban will continue to make movement within the state precarious, especially in the 6 local government areas affected by the ban.

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, insists that the ban is here to stay and will not be revoked. To address the criticism and uproar, Sanwo-Olu announced the launch of 14 commercial boats and deployed a fleet of 65 buses across new routes to expand transportation options.

Arete recommends avoiding Eti-Osa, Ikeja, Lagos Island, Lagos Mainland, Apapa, and Surulere if possible, and where necessary, it is vital to have Close Protection protocols in place when moving through the aforementioned areas.

You can email us at info@arete-group.com for more information and to access security services.