Lockdown Ease: Okada riders beg govt to lift ban

By Damilola Kushimo

Commercial motorcycle operators popular known as Okada riders have appealed to the government to equally allow them operate as lockdown on business was partially relaxed, promising that they would comply with all guidelines.

In a chat with ECHONEWS, the Caretaker Chairman of Motorcycle Operators Association of Lagos State (MOALS), Isolo Zone A, Comrade Adeyemi Adebayo begged the government to relax the ban on Okada operation, saying they could no longer endure the situation.

He reiterated that the prohibition of their operation since the lockdown began has had unbearable effect on not only the riders but also their families, community residents as well as those who feed on Okada operation such as spare part sellers and vulcanizers.

He said: “We don’t have any other work to do, we have bills on our necks, we have families, even the residents moving within the community undergo so much stress moving within the community, since there is no Okada. Though the lockdown is for our own safety, it has come with severe discomfort for us all.

“We appeal to the government to ease it on us.  If they say we should start working but can only carry one passenger and we must use facemask, we will work on it. We won’t mind. Within three days, we will make sure all riders key into it. Any rider that defies the guideline will be arrested and severely sanctioned.

He said the union recognises that the ban which came with the lockdown is for the safety of everybody but urged the government to consider the fact that there is no work out there, no alternative and we have families who depend on us.”

He, however, denied the rumour that the association gave directive to okada riders to partially operate within the community, emphasizing that the leadership of the association in Isolo Zone A never gave such directive.