The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has held a security meeting with leading lights in security circle.
In the audience were religious leaders, the State Chief Judge, Justice Kazeem Alogba, Military Chiefs, Traditional leaders, Community leaders, Students, Unionists and members of the State Executive Council in Lagos.
Panelists highlighted the state’s security challenges at the meeting which took place at the Adeyemi Bero Hall, Alausa, Ikeja.
Governor Sanwo-Olu listed his administration’s efforts in security, saying he will be inaugurating the First and Last Mile buses in the coming week to replace Motorcycles.
He advised those who have taken up Okada riding for lack of jobs to grab the opportunities in agriculture, wealth creation, poverty alleviation and other government programmes.
Sanwo-Olu said that ”the meeting was organised in response to the growing threat posed by some lawless activities to the safety and security of lives in the State.”
He stressed that the government of Lagos State would be announcing reforms in transportation.
The Governor said; “We have noted with dismay the fact that Okada riders are disregarding and flouting the restrictions we imposed on their activities in certain areas of the metropolis.
”We have also observed with dismay, the ongoing violent confrontation by commercial motorcyclists against our law enforcement agencies.
”Based on all these, we have seen and experienced in the past couple of weeks, as well as the increasing threat posed by the activities of commercial motorcycle operators to the safety and security of lives, we will be announcing further changes to the parameters of motorcycle and tricycle operations in the State in the coming days. No society can make progress amid such haughty display of lawlessness and criminality.”
Sanwo-Olu made it known that the Government would fully implement the State’s Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law of 2019 as amended, which will enable the Government take over and demolish abandoned buildings and construction sites turned into safe haven for hoodlums and miscreants.
According to him, the State would strengthen its clean-up exercise of shanties and spots unapproved for settlement, but which had turned to hideouts for criminals.
He said: “Lagos must continue to enjoy an atmosphere of peace, safety and all-encompassing security. We are determined to arrest the current security challenges being faced in the State, and we will take every step necessary to deliver on our promises on a safe, secure and livable state. We will also continue to communicate regularly with key stakeholders, and all the residents for updates on the progress we are making.”
Appraising security situation in Lagos, the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hakeem Odumosu said; “Between January and early this month, 320 commercial motorcycles were arrested in 218 cases of criminal incidents in which 78 suspects were detained and 480 ammunition recovered.
He said: “The menace of Okada operators does not end with avoidable accidents. Crime reports from the field have shown that a greater percentage of crimes, ranging from armed robbery, cultism, kidnapping, murder, burglary and stealing, traffic robbery to carjacking and cash snatching from bank customers, are attributable to armed hoodlums who operate on Okada.
“The nuisance constituted by the Okada operators on Lagos roads has become a danger to law abiding citizens.”
”Sections of Lagos populace have come to regard commercial motorcycles as a necessary evil, it has become imperative for the Government to take more drastic measures against their notoriety.”
“The State Police Command strongly advises the State Government to immediately review the current guidelines guiding the operation of Okada as a means of commercial transportation in the State and take decisive legal and administrative steps and policies that will curb their traffic, criminal and other nefarious activities in the State,” Odumosu added.