Stakeholders Express Fears Over Proposed Total Ban of Okada, Tricycles In Lagos

Lagos State stakeholders in the Transport Sector have expressed fears over a proposed plan to ban motor cycles and tricycle operations outright in the ongoing transform reforms bill in the state.

The stakeholders spoke at a Day Public Hearing on A Bill for a Law to Consolidate all Laws Relating to the Transport Sector, Provide

for the Development and Management of a Sustainable Transport System in Lagos State and for Connected Purposes.

The public hearing was organised by the Assembly at the Lateef Jakande Hall.

Section 35 of the Nine Scheduled Bill comprises 226 sections stated that “A person shall not ride, drive or propel a cart, wheelbarrow, motorcycle or tricycle on any road within the state.

“A person who fails to comply with any of the provision of this

section commits an offence and shall be liable on conviction to:

Imprisonment of for a term of three years or to any non-custodial

sentence; and have his vehicle forfeited to the state.’’

According to this section, where a rider is convicted for an offence,

the passenger shall also be liable to the same penalty provided the

passenger is not a child.

Reviewing the bill, the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa said: “We arrived at this bills by looking through laws that have to do

with transport system in the Lagos State.

“We overhaul all laws in transport system in conformity with best

global standard practices. We codify to ensure that there is no

overlap in such a way to bring friction and conflict’’.

On proposed outright ban of motor cycles and tricycles in the state,

Obasa, who was represented by the Majority Leader, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade, said that the House would do its best to satisfy the masses.

He said that the state road traffic laws and its provisions had been

merged with MVAA and LASTMA

According to him, when the law is passed, Lagos will be better for it.

In his contributions, Mr Hyginus Omeje, the Lagos State Sector

Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) commended the efforts of the House on the unified bill, saying “It is a right step in the right direction.’’

Omeje, however, called for affirmative statement on the position of

the proposed law on the ban of motorcycles and tricycles in the state.

He said that there was a need to harmonise all the traffic laws with

offences, as well as records of offences of a driver irrespective of

wherever such is in the federation.

The commander said that the state might need to build more prisons if the traffic offences that attract 3 years imprisonment in the bill

were to be implemented.

A University don, Prof. Iyiola Oni, who commended efforts to

consolidate all transport laws in the state, said that the greatest

problem in the transport sector is an institution disorderliness.

Oni, the Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences of the University of Lagos,

said that the relationship among the transport agencies should be well clarified, saying that the state needed an integrated and intermodal transport system.

“What is the level of training of the enforcers, we have to be

careful and tread softly in economic realities considering the fines.

The academic, who called for a comprehensive data base, said the road transportation had been emphasised more than other means of transport.

Oni also called for a role of local government traffic management unit

with each council organising and managing the roads in their domain.

He urged the House to look into blockages of inners roads by

landlords, religious organizations, blocking roads as well as cutting

of roads by communication industries and others.

Mr. Peter Fosudo, Head of Department, Urban and Regional Planning,

Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH) called for categorizations of

roads that commercial motorcycles and tricycles operators could ply in the bill.

Fosudo, who called for restrictions of motor cycles and tricycles from

highways instead of outright ban, called for heavy fines for

defaulters.

Biodun Mike Hundeyin, a Solicitor of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) said that the outright ban on commercial motorcycles and tricycles would be counterproductive to the economic activities in the state.

The solicitor, who called for specific roles for NURTW in the new

proposed law, said that the development would compound the problem of unemployment in the state.

According to him, the major mode of transport in Badagry, for

instance, is motorcycles as the roads are in deplorable state.

Prince Joseph Odusanya, Lagos Chairman of Tricycle Owners Association of Nigeria, who frowned against outright ban of tricycles, called for consideration on the proposed ban.

“If Okada is being banned, tricycles should be an alternative means

of transportation. Let’s consider the hardship this might bring to the

people and the economy of the state,’’ he said.

Mr Taiwo Olalekan, Secretary Taxi Drivers and Cab Operators

Association, said that the section requiring use of brand new vehicles

or those that are not older than five years as taxi should be

reconsidered. Olalekan advised that this should be extended to 10 years because of its economic implication.

Mr Albert Omotayo from the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) said that the number offences should be reduced as they were unrealistic.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transport, Dr Taiwo Salaam, said that the state needed to improve its transport system to enhance security and safety of commuters saying “Security is at stake if we don’t modernise our transport system.

“It is an aberration for a state like Lagos to support usage of Okada

as a means of transportation; many of them (operators) unleash terror on the people.

“We need to document the riders if they are to be allowed in the estates.

However, Agunbiade, urged all stakeholders to comply with the rules to make Lagos attain smart city status.

He called on the Ministry of Transportation to do more on locking of

gates by some landlord associations at a time when the gates were

meant to be opened.

“We recognise the need for security, but so many streets now block

their gates in the day time. People do it indiscriminately with

impunity,’’ he said.

Earlier in his welcome address, Chairman of the Adhoc Committee on

Transportation, Mr. Fatai Mojeed said that the reform would make

transportation better and more effective in the state.

The bill harmonises vehicle inspection office (offences and

penalties), Traffic Offences and Penalties, declared roads and Lagos

Bus Services Limited.

Others include Lagos State Ferry Services, Lagos State Traffic Sector

Reform Law (Road Traffic) Regulations, and Lagos State Traffic Sector Reform Law (Taxi Operations) Regulations.

The rest are Agencies and Departments Under The Ministry and Protocol.

On 20 December 2017 at 19:15, Tomori Adeleke wrote:

Lagos State Stakeholders in the Transport Sector have expressed fears over a proposed plan to outrightly ban motor cycles and tricycle operations in the ongoing transform reforms bill in the state.

The stakeholders spoke at a Day Public Hearing on A Bill for a

Law to Consolidate all Laws Relating to the Transport Sector, Provide

for the Development and Management of a Sustainable Transport System in Lagos State and for Connected Purposes.

The public hearing was organised by the Assembly at the Lateef Jakande Hall.

Section 35 of the Nine Scheduled Bill comprises 226 sections stated that “A person shall not ride, drive or propel a cart, wheelbarrow, motorcycle or tricycle on any road within the

state.

“A person who fails to comply with any of the provision of this

section commits an offence and shall be liable on conviction to:

Imprisonment of for a term of three years or to any non-custodial

sentence; and have his vehicle forfeited to the state.’’

According to this section, where a rider is convicted for an offence,

the passenger shall also be liable to the same penalty provided the

passenger is not a child.

Reviewing the bill, the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa said: “We arrived at this bills by looking through laws that have to do

with transport system in the Lagos State.

“We overhaul all laws in transport system in conformity with best

global standard practices. We codify to ensure that there is no

overlap in such a way to bring friction and conflict’’.

On proposed outright ban of motor cycles and tricycles in the state,

Obasa, who was represented by the Majority Leader, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade, said that the House would do its best to satisfy the masses.

He said that the state road traffic laws and its provisions had been

merged with MVAA and LASTMA

According to him, when the law is passed, Lagos will be better for it.

In his contributions, Mr Hyginus Omeje, the Lagos State Sector

Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) commended the efforts of the House on the unified bill, saying “It is a right step in the right direction.’’

Omeje, however, called for affirmative statement on the position of

the proposed law on the ban of motorcycles and tricycles in the state.

He said that there was a need to harmonise all the traffic laws with

offences, as well as records of offences of a driver irrespective of

wherever such is in the federation.

The commander said that the state might need to build more prisons if the traffic offences that attract 3 years imprisonment in the bill

were to be implemented.

A University don, Prof. Iyiola Oni, who commended efforts to

consolidate all transport laws in the state, said that the greatest

problem in the transport sector is an institution disorderliness.

Oni, the Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences of the University of Lagos,

said that the relationship among the transport agencies should be well clarified, saying that the state needed an integrated and intermodal transport system.

“What is the level of training of the enforcers, we have to be

careful and tread softly in economic realities considering the fines.

The academic, who called for a comprehensive data base, said the road transportation had been emphasised more than other means of transport.

Oni also called for a role of local government traffic management unit

with each council organising and managing the roads in their domain.

He urged the House to look into blockages of inners roads by

landlords, religious organizations, blocking roads as well as cutting

of roads by communication industries and others.

Mr. Peter Fosudo, Head of Department, Urban and Regional Planning,

Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH) called for categorizations of

roads that commercial motorcycles and tricycles operators could ply in the bill.

Fosudo, who called for restrictions of motor cycles and tricycles from

highways instead of outright ban, called for heavy fines for

defaulters.

Biodun Mike Hundeyin, a Solicitor of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) said that the outright ban on commercial motorcycles and tricycles would be counterproductive to the economic activities in the state.

The solicitor, who called for specific roles for NURTW in the new

proposed law, said that the development would compound the problem of unemployment in the state.

According to him, the major mode of transport in Badagry, for

instance, is motorcycles as the roads are in deplorable state.

Prince Joseph Odusanya, Lagos Chairman of Tricycle Owners Association of Nigeria, who frowned against outright ban of tricycles, called for consideration on the proposed ban.

“If Okada is being banned, tricycles should be an alternative means

of transportation. Let’s consider the hardship this might bring to the

people and the economy of the state,’’ he said.

Mr Taiwo Olalekan, Secretary Taxi Drivers and Cab Operators

Association, said that the section requiring use of brand new vehicles

or those that are not older than five years as taxi should be

reconsidered. Olalekan advised that this should be extended to 10 years because of its economic implication.

Mr Albert Omotayo from the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) said that the number offences should be reduced as they were unrealistic.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transport, Dr Taiwo Salaam, said that the state needed to improve its transport system to enhance security and safety of commuters saying “Security is at stake if we don’t modernise our transport system.

“It is an aberration for a state like Lagos to support usage of Okada

as a means of transportation; many of them (operators) unleash terror on the people.

“We need to document the riders if they are to be allowed in the estates.

However, Agunbiade, urged all stakeholders to comply with the rules to make Lagos attain smart city status.

He called on the Ministry of Transportation to do more on locking of

gates by some landlord associations at a time when the gates were

meant to be opened.

“We recognise the need for security, but so many streets now block

their gates in the day time. People do it indiscriminately with

impunity,’’ he said.

Earlier in his welcome address, Chairman of the Adhoc Committee on

Transportation, Mr. Fatai Mojeed said that the reform would make

transportation better and more effective in the state.

The bill harmonises vehicle inspection office (offences and

penalties), Traffic Offences and Penalties, declared roads and Lagos

Bus Services Limited.

Others include Lagos State Ferry Services, Lagos State Traffic Sector

Reform Law (Road Traffic) Regulations, and Lagos State Traffic Sector Reform Law (Taxi Operations) Regulations.

The rest are Agencies and Departments Under The Ministry and Protocol.