Menace of Okada Rider in Festac Town Got The Attention Of Lagos State House of Assembly

 

The Lagos State House of Assembly has set up a five-man ad hoc committee to investigate the alleged menace caused by commercial motorcyclists known as Okada riders in Amuwo Odofin local government in particular, and Festac town.
This followed a petition by the president of

Festac Residents Association Mr. Sola Fakorede read on the floor of the Assembly by the Clerk of the House, Mr Ganiyu Abiru.

According to the letter; ‘’On August 12, 2012, former Gov. Babatunde Fashola signed into law the ban of commercial motorcycles operation in some parts of Lagos metropolis, Festac Town inclusive. However, up till now, the law is begging for enforcement in FestacTown.

“All manners of kidnappings and hooliganism perpetrated by Okada operators make residents to live in a state of perpetual fear and high trauma.

“Ghastly accidents, hire killings, kidnapping, snatching of bags, phones, laptops and robbery both day and night are linked to Okada operators and their collaborators.

“Help us to phase out the menace of Okada operation in FESTAC Town; enough is enough,” the association said in the letter.

Reacting, Mr Dipo Olorunrinu of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, representing Amuwo/Odofin Constituency1, urged the Assembly to wade into the menace of Okada operators in the area.

“Lagos State House of Assembly has to come in because of the menace caused by okada riders. There is an increase in crime rate,” he said.

The lawmaker, in whose constituency the area falls, said the police had been having confrontations with the Okada operators, alleging that  all efforts to stem the situation have proved abortive.

He urged the police to embark on continuous raid of the area for the residents to sleep with their two eyes closed.

He also called on the association to harmonize the operations of the okada riders adding that some of the association members  have been infiltrated.