By Francis IWUCHUKWU
Commercial motorcycle operators otherwise known as Okada riders were on Thursday banned on inner streets and roads by the Lekki Phase I Residents Association, LERA.
The ban was made public by the Chairman of LERA, Yomi Idowu while addressing a press conference on security breaches in the area.
While the press briefing lasted, some residents also protested against the activities of Okada riders in the area, displaying placards with various inscriptions.
In appealing to the state government to enforce the law banning Okada riders in the state, Yomi Idowu commended Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for banning Okada riders in Ikeja, Surulere, Eti-Osa, Lagos Mainland, Lagos Island and Apapa, which will take effect from June 1.
According to the LERA boss, “We in Lekki Phase I cannot risk the lives of our people further. We are, therefore, taking proactive measures by banning activities of Okada riders with immediate effect. We choose to live and say no to ‘Okada’ on our roads and inner streets.”
Yomi Idowu further charged the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development and the New Towns Development Authority to flush out hoodlums and miscreants in uncompleted buildings in the community.
Idowu described the killing of a sound engineer, David Imoh, in Lekki as “dastardly, animalistic and senseless”.
He said, “Intelligence reports reaching us are that following the raid on Okada riders and subsequent seizure of their bikes in Lekki Phase 1 by officials of Lagos State Taskforce, the riders, who believe the action was instigated by Lekki residents, are planning to attack the residents.
“This is not the first time residents are been terrorised by motorcycle riders in Lekki Phase I. Indeed, Okada has been an environmental nuisance and many residents have had their fair share of sheer recklessness. It is an obvious fact that security within Lekki Phase I has deteriorated.
“It is imperative that we all take a collective stance and formulate joint initiatives to avert a total exposure to imminent security threats to the lives and assets of our residents.”
Member of Board of Trustee Chief Emeka Nweze said those who patronise the Okada riders are not homeowners, but rather domestic workers and people working on sites.
Chief Nweze called on the state government to ensure those who have undeveloped properties start working on them or have them confiscated.
“We cannot continue to harbour miscreants in those uncompleted buildings. It is dangerous to residents,” he said.
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