The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation, Mr. Oluseyi Coker,
said this at a news conference in Alausa, noting that the state
government frowned at the disregard to the law of the state by okada
riders.
He added that the state government would no longer fold its hands and
allow the impunity to continue, saying okada operators “are still banned
in 475 roads out of the 9,100 roads in the metropolis in accordance
with the law.”
He said due to the enforcement of the provisions of the 2012 Road
Traffic Law, the state witnessed over 81 percent reduction in the number
of motorcycles related accidents reported in the state’s public health
institutions and over 80 percent reduction in motorcycle related death
reported at our public hospitals.
He added that okada-related deaths “have been drastically reduced from
192 per year to a maximum of six per year. We have saved about 465 lives
since October 2012 to date.”
“We have also prevented an average of 476 motorcycle related injuries
monthly and 5,712 yearly. By implication, we have prevented a total of
14,220 motorcycle accident related injuries since 2012.”
Coker said more recently, there were some months that the casualty
rates were as low as zero percent to the extent that the so called
‘’Okada’’ wards at some of the state’s public hospitals had become
empty.
“However, it is disheartening to see that motorcycle operators have
resurfaced on our restricted roads especially in areas such as Ikeja,
Isolo, Apapa, Agege, Epe, Ijede, Shomolu/ Bariga, Ifako Ijaiye/ Ojokoro,
Ikorodu, Mushin, Ketu, Ojota, Lagos Island, Ojodu and Badagry in spite
of the various efforts of the past administrations in the State to
ensure that the menace of motorcycle operators is curbed and the rate of
accident, injuries and death is reduced drastically in the State.
“This administration, being a responsive and responsible government
committed to the protection of lives and property, safety of all
Lagosians and visitors alike will not fold its hands and allow
indiscipline, flagrant disobedience to law and order, loss of lives and
property of innocent citizens of the State to continue unabated.
“It is in view of this that I call on the leaders of transport unions
and executives of various motorcycle operators (registered and
non-registered) to ensure that motorcycle operators strictly adhere to
the various Laws regulating their operations as contained in Section 3
of the Road Traffic Law as well as desist from plying any of the 475
roads, including highways and bridges restricted for their operations
out of the 9, 200 roads in the State. The Law on motorcycle operation in
the State is Sacrosanct.
“Motorcycle operators should please note that henceforth, anyone found
to have violated the Law shall be dealt with in accordance with the Road
Traffic Law, RTL 2012 Section 3 Subsection 5 which stipulates that “Any
person who fails to comply with any of the provisions of this Section
commits an offence and shall be liable on conviction to: imprisonment
for a term of three (3) years or render community service in accordance
with the provisions of Section 347 of the Administration of Criminal
Justice Law of Lagos State and have his vehicle forfeited to the
State,” he stated.
source:ThisDayLive
No comments:
Post a Comment