Okada ban: MC Oluomo warns commercial drivers against increase in transport fare as commuters groan.

The Chairman of Lagos State Chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, Alhaji Musiliu Ayinde Akinsanya (MC-Oluomo), has warned commercial drivers against indiscriminate increase in transport fare over the ban of motorcycles and tricycles in some parts of Lagos State.

The NURTW boss gave the warning in a statement on Monday, saying the warning became imperative following the complaints from members of public, alleging commercial drivers of taking advantage of the ban to inflict more pains on the commuters.

Lagos State NURTW Chairman directed that no commercial driver should inflate their charges, warning that anyone caught in the act would be dealt with in line with the rules and regulations of the union.

He directed all the branch chairmen of the union to monitor and ensure that the commercial drivers do not extort people as a result of the ban of motorcycle and tricycle operations in some parts of the metropolis.

He stated that NURTW in Lagos State has been making a move to resolve the issue with state government and that the union is also working assiduously with investors to inject more buses and increase the number of commercial vehicles in the metropolis to ease the hardship faced as a result of the ban.

Oluomo used the occasion to caution commercial drivers against driving on one way or BRT corridors as anyone found culpable would face the wrath of the law.

“We advise both the commercial drivers and TOAN and MOALS to be patient and cooperate with Lagos State Traffic Management Authority officials, obey traffic lights. It’s an offence to drive on BRT lanes or drive against traffic. Obey the traffic laws and regulations, comport yourself orderly and do not carry passengers at will.”

Meanwhile, with the full enforcement of the policy on Okada and tricycle operations in Lagos even beyond the restricted areas, commuters have started lamenting hardship as the policy has started having adverse effect on them, complaining that they undergo stress in getting to their destinations.

DAILY POST reported that many commuters have resorted to trekking and horse-riding due to scarcity of Okada and tricycles to convey them in some areas.

In separate chats with people at different locations in the state, the affected residents recounted to DAILY POST how the ban has affected them especially on the Monday being the first working day to experience the effect of the policy.

Our correspondent, who moved round the metropolis to feel the pulse of the people on the latest policy reported that police were seizing Okadas and tricycles from riders on roads that were not listed or captured in the directory released by the state government.

Some of the respondents who spoke with DAILY POST, said although the restriction order was given in the interest of the residents, a monitoring team should be put in place to curb the excesses of security agents while implementing the executive order.

A staff of Radio Nigeria Bond FM) located at Ikeja, Taoreed Abdullahi, who lives in Oshodi, said the police he could not get tricycle to convey him from Inside Oshodi to Ladipo bus stop as police arrested Okada and Maruwa in that axis despite the fact that they were operating within the community that is not among the restricted areas.