Sanwo-Olu will arrest any soldier, police officer caught riding Okada

Sanwo-Olu vows to arrest any soldier, police officer caught using the motorcycle for commercial purposes.

The Lagos State Government has vowed to arrest any military or uniformed personnel who uses a motorcycle for commercial purposes.

On February 1, 2020, Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his team commenced the enforcement of a ban on commercial motorcycles and tricycles popularly referred to as ‘Okada’ and ‘Napep,’ in a chunk of the city.

The Okada and Napep were banned from the city center because they had caused numerous accidents and had worsened crime rate, the government said.

Soldiers who operate Okadas

Since the restriction of the activities of the commercial motorcyclists, Lagosians have noticed that a couple of soldiers, police or navy personnel have gone into the Okada business in their uniforms, because no one will dare arrest a military officer doing the rounds or hustling while wearing a uniform.

However, the Lagos state government has now issued a stern warning to uniform men flouting the “State’s Transport Sector Reform Laws. It is illegal for any security operative in mufti to ride commercial motorcycles on routes where Okada and tricycles have been restricted,” the government declared through Information Commissioner Gbenga Omotoso.

The pronouncement arrived in the wake of a security meeting held at the State House in Marina this week.

Governor Sanwo-Olu chaired the meeting, which was attended by Commanders of all security formations in the State.