By Ayodeji Dedeigbo
The residents of Lagos State, this morning reacted to the ban on motorcycle, tricycle and Opay by Lagos State government across the Lagos Metropolis.
The declaration was made early this morning , which took effect at Ikotun, Abaranje, Ijegun, Ile-iwe, Alimosho, Igando, Ketu , Kosofe and Bariga area of Lagos State, south west Nigeria.
While speaking with Mrs Akinrinade who identified herself as a trader , she said ” The government should just try and help us to revert this, because it’s really affecting us. ” I went to Mushin to buy market as usual, I boarded a bus which was not supposed to have charged me more than N500 is now charging N3,000 can you see that is quite expensive, can you imagine just to convey me to Ile-iwe. She urged the executive Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo olu to help look into the situation, so he would be able to help revert the case as the stress is much.
Another resident of Mile 12 , who identified himself as Mr. Ojo Animashaun, said “I am a trader in the popular Mile 12 market, ever since this declaration had been made I’ve been finding it difficult to leave the market because of the ban on Okada, Tricycle and Play, and with all these they are really assisting even with the amount, it’s still affordable, but now people are paying higher, and I can’t put all the money I realized on what I’m selling all because I wanted to return home, since yesterday , have been sleeping inside market”.
Also speaking with an Okada rider whose name is Taiwo Ismaila said if the Government wanted us to stop this Okada , they should make adequate solution, most of us are graduated, most of us are married, we have children we cater for in one way or the other. Do they want us to turn to armed robbers, if the Government wants us to stop riding Okada then he should make adequate provision, because each time I woke up , I’ll be thinking of what my children will eat , how I’ll buy them clothes, how I’ll pay their school fees, all these are on my neck , that is why you see me plying everywhere with my bike to look for my daily bread
Another Okada Operator who ride for Opay who identified himself as Tijani Balogun said,” I have some debt to clear, because Opay bike was given to me on installment, and I’m supposed to pay the money for 18months, and I’m paying N2,000 a day , that’s a very huge amount of money, and I just remitted for 3months, and my family will eat, what did they want us to do , I’m fed up of these mess, if government did not do something about this, I’m so sorry everybody will turn robbers.
One of the excos representing Alimosho, Motorcycle owners Association of Lagos State (MOALS), who pl8 anonymity said, Alimosho is not part of the restricted area, the police in Alimosho are just using us as their ATM, most especially Ikotun division, they have been coming to us and once they come we have been setting them.
He said “we collect money specially for them, we singlehandedly approached our riders for Owo”
