Motorcycle(okada) operators who have been banned from operating on Lagos roads are now back on almost all the hitherto prohibited routes, themessageinternational.blogspot.com can confirm authoritatively.
A couple of checks on some parts of the states revealed that most of the riders who had gone into hiding to avoid harassment and undue extortion by security operatives have bounced back enmass on not only the link roads, but the express and some highways in the state. They have even started assembling, creating new parks possibly not known by the officials of the Lagos state Task Force on the implementation of Traffic Law which once restricted okada operation to certain parts of the state, but later imposed outright ban on such operation throughout the state to avoid the spread of COVID-19.
A couple of the okada operators who spoke to us on the reason they ignored the Lagos state order banning them from operating, especially at the moment to avoid the spread of Coronavirus which now increases daily, unanimously linked their action to the need to take care of their families as they don't have any means of livelihood yet. They therefore urged the government to unban them outrightly as they're ready to completely with rules guiding the combat against the dreaded virus, especially by using nose mask and hand sanitizer.
According to Sunday Obinna, "My brother, it's not our fault that we're back on the road fully now. We need to cater for our families as the government is not ready to take care of anybody. Do you think it's easy, not working for about three months? Even, the police understand our situation better because they took benefits from us if we're on the roads. That's why most of them are pitying us. They're even the one protecting us from being arrested by the Task Force from Alausa. Although, they gave us limit, and that's what we're operating with. We don't go beyond their limit, and I you do, you pay darely for it."
Another operator, Olajide Salawu also
corroborated the earlier speaker, saying, "It has not been easy all this while. There's too much hunger in the land. Most states didn't ask okada riders not to operate, it's only Lagos that we always have problem with the government. We also have family to cater for. The poverty is too much. Most of us have reported to buying food items on credit for our families to survive. Government should just pity us, we will abuse by all the rules of COVID-19 if that's the reason they asked us to stop work. We will also be using facemask and sanitizer. We also don't want to die of any disease. Police are our friends at the moment because they're feeling our pain , that's why they hardly disturb, but there are places we can't work for now if you don't want to find yourself in trouble."
corroborated the earlier speaker, saying, "It has not been easy all this while. There's too much hunger in the land. Most states didn't ask okada riders not to operate, it's only Lagos that we always have problem with the government. We also have family to cater for. The poverty is too much. Most of us have reported to buying food items on credit for our families to survive. Government should just pity us, we will abuse by all the rules of COVID-19 if that's the reason they asked us to stop work. We will also be using facemask and sanitizer. We also don't want to die of any disease. Police are our friends at the moment because they're feeling our pain , that's why they hardly disturb, but there are places we can't work for now if you don't want to find yourself in trouble."
In his submission, Malam Shuaib said, "We're suffering too much and we can steal. That's why we came out again. As you see us here, we don't operate beyond this vicinity. And you can't see most of us working at night. The security operatives around here are friendly, though we also extend our goodness to them. Government should just give us benefit of the doubt and observe if we will not use facemask or sanitize ourselves. Hunger can even kill more than Coronavirus. A lot of my colleagues have gone back to the north. I too will also go when the roads are opened for interstate transportation. I just want to gather little money for transport and to take care of my family."
By Tade Asifat
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