By Yemi Olakitan
The quest for a cleaner and environmental friendly transport system in Lagos State led to the ban on commercial motor cyclists, better known as okada, in the state, NatureNews.Africa has learnt.
Experts said apart from the menace of commercial motorcyclists, constituting nuisance on our roads, they also contribute about 70 percent to air pollution.
Recall that the Lagos state government had recently banned the operations of okada riders in the state and warned that violators of the ban, face the possibility of serving a prison sentence of three years, a fine or both.
Findings by NatureNews.Africa showed that the Lagos state administration has banned “Okada” seven times.
Former governor Bola Tinubu stopped commercial motorcyclists from operating in Lagos State in 2007. Babatunde Fashola, his successor, prohibited them in March 2012.
Despite Tinubu, Fashola, and Ambode’s restrictions, Okada riders still drive on Lagos roadways. Sanwo-Olu, the governor of Lagos State, banned commercial bike operators in February 2020 and May 2022. He shut down bike-hailing companies Opay, Gokada, and Max in 2019. This is despite the fact that privately owned commercial motorcycles were exempt from the law before his administration came to office.
Experts say it has high negative environmental hazards as it is one of the chief causes of air pollution.
Ayodele Ogbunjobi, an environmentalist and blogger told NatureNews.Africa in an interview that Motorcycle gases emission contributes to air pollution in the Lagos state.
According to him, experts have agreed that vehicular exhausts are a source of considerable air pollution and the ever increasing vehicular density posed continued threat to air quality for the people.
‘‘The level of gases coming out from motorcycles all over the streets and the highway in Lagos is as a result of the high population of riders in the state. This is why a greater percentage of pollutants are released daily into the air and the air in Lagos metropolis is not pure.’’
Another expert noted the old motorcycles contribute more to air pollution in Lagos.
He said their emission levels, and the problem is further compounded by the failure in maintaining the motorcycles as should be done to reduce rate of dangerous gases emissions levels.
“The problem could also arise from manufacturers not adhering to regulatory standards given when motorcycles were sent to Nigeria. The air pollution rate in motorcycles usage as a means of transportation is very high. Reliance on motorcycle as a primary means of transportation is really a problem to people and the environment at large.
“It has been estimated that sulphuric acid emanating from automobile exhaust with other gases and aerosols in the atmosphere is responsible for most of the acid rain. This acid precipitation can destroy forms of aquatic life, especially salmons, and reduce species diversity in aquatic ecosystems, damage food crops and tress, and leach plant nutrients from plants and soils.
“High concentration of carbon monoxide when inhaled ties up hemoglobin in blood and deprives the body of oxygen. This can lead to headache, fatigue, impaired judgement, and greater workload on the hearts. In addition to heart disease, carbon monoxide poisoning may cause road traffic accidents by causing driver’s fatigue and poor judgement. Other effects are: ozone layer depletion with future climate change, toxicity hazards to plants and animals, impairment of atmosphere.”
Findings by NatureNews.Africa suggests that these are the major reasons behind the Lagos state government ban on their activities.
Chief Press Secretary, to the Lagos State Government, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, told NatureNews.Africa that aside insecurity, environmental pollution is part of the reasons behind the ban.
Akosile said, ‘we cannot build Lagos state on Okada transportation, the use of Okada for petty crimes is on the rise, the high rates of accidents on our highway is another factor, including environmental pollution and its negative impacts on our health. It is the responsibility of the state government to protect the lives of its residents and we are committed to doing that.’’
However, the Okada riders have continued to resist the ban. They have sued the state government in the Federal High Court in Ikeja, Lagos. Now, under the Motorcycle Transport Union of Nigeria (MTUN), they had asked a Federal High Court in Lagos to declare the state’s ban on their activities illegal, unlawful, and unconstitutional.
Many residents have however, backed the government’s action.
Lekki Estate Residents and Stakeholders Association (LERSA) president James Emadoye urged Lagos State to keep the ban on commercial motorbikes in select areas. Emadoye said that walking a few kilometers due to the ban would be good for people’s health. Ikeja resident Kamoru Ayo said, “I support banning Okada for security reasons.” Because the government couldn’t regulate them, they were outlawed. They killed a cop recently. They’re too numerous and have violent connections. ‘’
