Human Rights activist, Ebun Adegboruwa, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), on Wednesday, February 5th, 2020 called on the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to provide an alternative means of transport, in response to the ban on commercial motorcycles and tricycles popularly known as Okada and Keke Napep respectively.

The activist said providing an alternative means of transport would ease the sufferings of Lagos State inhabitants.

In a statement Adegboruwa sent to DAILY POST, he however, supported the ban on commercial motorcycles and tricycles in the state.

On Tuesday, February 4th, 2020, irrespective of the widespread protest, the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, had insisted that the government would not reverse its decision on the ban.

Sanwo-Olu had explained that the ban was due to security and safety issues.

However, Adegboruwa said:

The Lagos State Government recently announced the enforcement of the extant Traffic Law of the State, which has restricted the use of motorcycles and tricycles in certain parts of the State.

Whereas I support the partial restriction in some areas of the State especially the highways and urban areas, it is important that sufficient alternatives are provided to ease the burden of commuters, given the traffic gridlock that has recently engulfed the State.

The Senior Advocate insisted that criminals use motorcycles to carry out social vices.

Reports of robbery, violence, accidents and other social vices associated with motorcycles especially, cannot be ignored. The environmental impact of motorcycles and tricycles also lend credence to the restriction.

I, therefore, urge the government to provide viable and durable alternative means of transport so as to alleviate the burdens of the people that may be a consequence of the partial restriction.

The activist declared that the security of lives and properties should take precedence over transient inconvenience.

He added:

The security of life is surely more important than the temporary inconvenience that may attend the restrictions.

I, therefore, urge that the restrictions be maintained and viable alternative means of transport should be provided to alleviate the sufferings of commuters.

Justin Nwosu

Justin Nwosu is the founder and publisher of Flavision. His core interest is in writing unbiased news about Nigeria in particular and Africa in general. He’s a strong adherent of investigative journalism, with a bent on exposing corruption, abuse of power and societal ills.