Okada ban: Why Lagosians should use ferry - LAGFERRY MD Ladi-Balogun explains
- LAGFERRY boss, Abdoulbaq Ladi-Balogun, has explained why the Lagos government restricted Okada and Keke in some major roads in the state
- The implementation of the ban on Okada and Keke took effect on Saturday, February 1
- Ladi-Balogun, who was a former member of Lagos Assembly, said the implementation of the law was for the safety of lives of the people in the state
The managing director of Lagos State Ferry Services (LAGFERRY), Abdoulbaq Ladi-Balogun, has explained why Lagos state government restricted Okada riders and the tricycles popularly called Keke Marwa on some roads in the state.
In an exclusive interview with Legit TV, Ladi-Balogun, who was part of the members of Lagos state House of Assembly who passed the traffic bill into law in 2012, said the implementation of the law was for the safety of lives of the people in the state.
He said Okada and Keke Marwa were never part of the strategic transportation masterplan of Lagos state, adding that the means of transportation captured included road, water and rail.
"Putting things in the right perspectives on the issue of ban or restriction, I was a member of Lagos state House of Assembly between 2011 and 2015 and I could remember that we passed a bill called Lagos state traffic bill 2012 into law.
Source: Original
"The law was radical, progressive and timely because it has to do with everything about traffic management such as when the articulated vehicles can move on the road, Okada riders should not carry more than one person or pregnant women and that Keke should be restricted to the inner roads, the riders and the passengers should wear helmet.
"In 2018, the Lagos state traffic law was amended and it is not what Governor Sanwo-Olu just accidentally implemented, it has been there. We have to look at it holistically, the blueprint of the transportation system in Lagos state."
Ladi-Balogun noted that the blueprint was actually put in place by the administration of former Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2000.
According to him, Tinubu captured what the transportation module should be for the next 30 years "and that is what the successive governments have been doing."
He said: "This government is trying to build on that structure and actually consolidate to achieve the vision of the modern Lagos we are dreaming of.
"Let me put in the right perspectives, Okoda and Marwa were not part of the strategic transportation masterplan of Lagos state. It was not envisaged at all, part of the transportation system include water, road, and rail. Luckily, before Asiwaju left office, everything that has to do with infrastructure for the delivery of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) has been put in place and when former governor Fashola came on board, he implemented the BRT and that was why some roads were demarcated.
"This government is trying to bring sanity to the system. The ultimate goal of this government is to protect the lives of the Lagosians. The government is trying to achieve what is good for the greatest number of people in the state."
Meanwhile, Legit.ng had previously reported that the Okada ban by the state government which restricted the movement of bikes and motorcycles put many residents under untold hardship.
PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read the best news on Nigeria’s #1 news app
It was reported that many are having a hard time getting to work as their sole means of cutting traffic is no more.
Among ways to ensure they get to their workplaces on time is having to wake up on time so as to set out early.
NAIJ.com (naija.ng) - Legit.ng We have upgraded to serve you better.
Okada ban: Why Lagosians should use ferry | - on Legit TV
Source: Legit.ng
