Emmanuel Thomas
June 19, 2015- The Lagos State Government has ordered motorcycle operators to stay away from all the 475 restricted roads including bridges and highways.
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation, Mr Oluseyi Coker, who made the revelation in Lagos said renewal of restriction order on motorcycle operation was necessary to preserve lives and maintain sanity on the affected routes.
According to him, Section 3 Sub-section 1 of the Law stipulates that “No person shall ride, drive or propel a cart, wheel barrow, motorcycle or tricycle on any of the routes specified in Schedule 11 to this Law”.
Coker who lamented the resurgence of motorcycle operators on the restricted roads especially in Ikeja, Isolo, Apapa, Agege, Epe, Ijede, Shomolu/ Bariga, Ifako Ijaiye/ Ojokoro, Ikorodu, Mushin, Ketu, Ojota, Lagos Island, Ojodu and Badagry.
He said that the present administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode would not fold its arms and allow lawlessness, indiscipline, flagrant disobedience to law and order, loss of lives and property to continue unabated.
Coker therefore appealed to leaders of the transport unions and executives of various motorcycle associations in the state to ensure that their members strictly adhere to the various laws regulating their operations.
He said that motorcycle operators in the state should ensure that they wear standard crash helmet whenever they are riding their motorcycles and should not carry more than one passenger.
He said that they are also not allowed to carry children, pregnant women, not ride against traffic, neither are they allowed to ride on the kerb, median or road setbacks.
The Permanent Secretary reminded motorcycle operators that at the commencement of the full enforcement, any person who fails to comply with any of the provisions of Section 3 of the Road Traffic Law, commits an offence and shall be liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of three (3) years or render community service in accordance with the provisions of Section 347 of the Criminal Justice Law of Lagos State and have his vehicle forfeited to the state.
Coker warned motorcycle operators who are fond of driving against traffic, especially on Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway and Ikorodu road amongst others to desist.
According to him, many lives that could contribute meaningfully to the wellbeing of their families, development of the state and country have been lost through this dangerous act.
He implored Lagosians who are fond of using motorcycle to encourage them to stay off restricted routes including bridges and highways and wear standard protective helmet whenever they ride on motorcycle.
According to him, Section 3 Sub-section 6 of the Road Traffic Law stipulates that “where a rider is convicted of an offence under subsections (1), (3) and (4) of Section 3, the passenger shall also be liable to the same penalty, provided the passenger is not a child”.
Coker appealed to everybody in the State to cooperate and support the present administration in ensuring the safety and protection of lives of road users.
