June 2, 2015 – There are indications that the Lagos State Government may ban operation of modified cabs otherwise called ‘kabukabu’ in the state following approval to regulate operation of taxi cabs in Lagos.
Speaking at at valedictory session in Lagos, Majority Leader of the House, Ajibayo Adeyeye stated that the approval of the regulation was long overdue.
He reminded the lawmakers that the regulation, as forwarded to the House by the state Ministry of Transportation will ensure that every operator of taxi cabs in the state would obtain a license from the ministry to operate.
Adeyeye added that the Ministry of Transportation would be empowered to arrest any operator, who does not have a license to operate.
In supporting the regulation, Funmilayo Tejuoso (APC Mushin I) said that the regulation was necessary so that the lives of Lagos residents would not be put at risk.
However, The Deputy Chief Whip, Rotimi Abiru (APC Shomolu II) cautioned his colleagues in denying some operators especially the ‘kabukabu’ the opportunity to do their business considering the unemployment rate in the country.
“The definition of cab should be made clear as he said that there were yellow cabs, black and red cabs and ‘kabukabu.'”
While responding, Speaker of the House, Adeyemi Ikuforiji said that the state plans to be Africa’s model megacity and that it should not allow sub-standard engagements.
“In developed countries, you see the kind of taxi cabs that convey the people. It is not the ones that would endanger the lives of the people. We need to regulate the operations of taxi cabs and the regulation gives the operators easy access to loans,” he said.
In his submission, Rotimi Olowo (APC Shomolu I) emphaised the need for standard.Olowo recalled his sojourn in Dubai where according to him some of the cars used as officials cars in Nigeria are actually used as taxis, saying Lagos needs to be at par wit h modern cities.
