Lagos CBD Warns Miscreants, Okada Operators Against Illegal Activities

The Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Central Business Districts, Mr. Gbenga Oyerinde, has again warned miscreants and commercial motorcycle operators, popularly known as Okada, against operating illegally within the CBD.

Oyerinde gave the warning while reacting to increasing reports of miscreants terrorising business owners, shoppers and visitors as well as aiding okada riders operating illegally on restricted routes within the Ikeja and Lagos Island business districts.

He noted that as the yuletide season approaches, business districts usually witness a large influx of shoppers, which miscreants and hoodlums exploit to commit all sorts of misconduct.

The Special Adviser gave assurance that the present administration would make life easy for residents, shoppers and traders within the Ikeja and Lagos Island business districts and, therefore, will not tolerate illegal activities by miscreants parading themselves as “omonile” in any part of the business districts in the State.

He called on Youth Associations and Community Development Associations (CDAs) within the Ikeja and Lagos Island Business District to caution their relatives as anyone arrested will be prosecuted accordingly, just as he declared that nobody will be allowed to derail the set objectives of the CBD as enshrined in the T.H.E.M.E.S Agenda of the State government.

While condemning the recalcitrant attitude of Okada operators who flout traffic laws guiding their operations, Oyerinde noted that the ban on Okada and tricycle operations on some roads within the Lagos Island CBD is still in force and CBD operatives will enforce it to the letter.

He, therefore, warned commercial okada operators, bus drivers, dispatch riders and tricycle operators operating within the Lagos Island business district to obey traffic rules and regulations in accordance with Section 3 of the Lagos Road Traffic Law 2012.

“It is very disheartening that despite the activities of CBD operatives to ensure smooth traffic situations within the Island business district, the activities of Okada operators, commercial bus drivers, cab operators as well as private car owners, aided by miscreants and hoodlums to park indiscriminately within the business district, has worsened the situation”, Oyerinde said.

The Special Adviser, who also decried the nuisance of street trading and display of wares on walkways and roads, called on market leaders and owners of shops and plazas extending to the roads to remove them immediately or face the full wrath of the environmental and physical planning laws of Lagos State.