* Commuters groan as ban takes effect February 1

Isola Moses

Following the Lagos State Government’s restriction and outright ban of commercial tricycle and motorcycle operations on specified routes in in Lagos metropolis, some commercial motorcycle operators Friday, January 31 took to the streets to express their grievances over the development.

ConsumerConnect learnt that state government, in its recent decision, has restricted their movement in some Local Government Areas (LGAs), Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs), bridges and highways in the state.

The commercial operators who include mostly those of ‘Gokada’ and ‘Max.ng’ staged a peaceful protest from Oregun Road, in Ikeja, to the Lagos State Government Secretariat at Alausa-Ikeja.

Reports say the protesters, bearing various placards, appealed to the state government to regulate their services and not restrict them from operating in Lagos.

They lamented that the business is their only means of survival.

Recall that Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, Honourable Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Lagos State, recently announced that the government would enforce the ban on motorcycles and tricycles in six local government areas, major highways, and bridges from February 1, 2020.

Mr. Omotoso explained that the decision was taken after a robust assessment of the debate on the rate of accidents in Lagos.

Security and safety of the lives of the Lagos residents are paramount, stated.

The Commissioner equally warned that all offenders and violators would be dealt with in accordance with the extant laws of the state.