The much awaited enforcement of laws regulating the operations of commercial motorcyclists otherwise known as Okada riders commences today in Lagos State.
LEADERSHIP investigation carried out on Tuesday revealed that officers of the state task force have already detailed its members to strategic locations to ensure full compliance with the laws it hoped would nip the problem constituted by the Okada riders in the bud.
The Chairman of the task force on Environmental and Special Offences, Mr. Bayo Suleiman, a superintendent of police, said the special task force have been briefed on the strategy to adopt in their operations.
Noting that police and military personnel are at forefront of breaking the law in the state, he warned the police officers, military personnel and other para-military organisations to comply with the directives or face the full wrath of the law.
Supporting the initiative, the Brigade Commander, 9th Mechanised Brigade, Ikeja cantonment, Brigadier General Tetrza Mu’azu, said all officers operating or riding motorcycles were expected to comply with the laws and regulations relating to motorcycle operations in the state.
He assured that the Armed Forces would ensure full compliance and enforcement of the laws, stating categorically that no member of the armed forces belonged to any motorcycle transport association.
The Lagos State governor, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, had before now directed all security operatives and agencies in the state to henceforth arrest any motorcycle operator who violates the state’s laws and regulations on motorcycle operations.
To this end, Fashola at the recent stakeholders’ forum had reached a stage where it must ensure that all motorcycle operators in the state did so in accordance with the laws and regulations.
As the enforcement begins, Fashola warned law enforcement agents against brutalising offenders during arrests, noting that there was no law that empowered security agents to brutalise or take laws into their hands.