By Abolaji Adebayo
Considering the plight of Lagos Commuters who have resorted to trekking long distances to work, the Federal House of Representatives member representing Oshodi-Isolo Constituency II, Hon. Ganiyu Johnson, has urged residents and commercial motorcycle operators popularly called Okada to be patient with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
In a statement made available to ECHONEWS, the lawmaker said the ban on Okada and Keke Napep’s operations in some parts of the state by the government is in the interest of the residents.
He said: “The governor is on top of the situation. The decision by the government to ban the operation of the commercial motorcycles and tricycles in some areas is in the interest of the residents. You will notice that it does not extend to some areas. It is a decision taken for the good of the people. I am sure that with time, the generality of Lagosians and even the genuine commercial motorcycle and keke operators would appreciate what the governor has done.”
Johnson, who was the former Lagos State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, maintained that the genuine okada and keke operators could be engaged in some other areas in the nearest future, stressing that as soon as the governor was done with the current restructuring in the transport sector, everybody would be happy.
He noted that the governor had already launched eight additional ferries to compliment the six existing ones in order to improve transportation on the waterways and ease traffic congestion on the roads.
He assured that the state government would provide additional buses to ease the suffering of Lagos commuters.
Johnson said that Lagosians should not forget that there had been a lot of negative reports associated with the activities of some commercial motorcycles and even keke operators, adding that the governor would not look away because the lives and safety of Lagos people were of paramount importance to him.
While reiterating the fact that people should not forget the high incidence of causality associated with accidents on the road as a result of recklessness of okada operators, Johnson said: “If you go to the orthopedic hospital and see the patients that have been confined to hospital beds as a result of okada accident, some of them have been maimed, others have broken limbs, while some others have even lost their lives, then Lagosians would have no other option than support the governor.”
