Boys Are Not Smiling: Okada Riders Protest

Traffick on the Yaba-Ojuelegba raod link came to a standstill following the protest by motorcycle operators called 'Okadas' when they converged at the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) HQ in Lagos today to protest the state government's ban on commercial motorcycles in Lagos. . . yet again.

Despite the warnings of the police, the Joint Action Front (JAF) went ahead with the protest march, in defiance of the presence of heavily-armed police presence. The police then went ahead to position men at strategic positions to prevent people from heading to the protest warm up venue

The Okada riders are protesting the ban (or partial ban, as it seems) on Okadas from plying certain major roads in the Gidi metropolis. The partial ban has led to an unrestricted police clampdown on ALL Okadas in every major and minor street in Lagos.

The Okada riders are NOT happy. They protest, saying Governor Fashola, after all ignores tobacco warnings, and still smokes.

Good point.

The police, in an attempt to stop the protest, had earlier whisked away four men for sharing leaflets among the gathering crowd. The number of protesters however continued to swell, and the organized movement of JAF began the rally from the NLC building. The police, conscious that the rally would turn huge, as other motorbike operators were reportedly waiting at other road junctions to join in, inched towards leaders of the procession to negotiate peace.

JAF Secretary, Comrade Abiodun Aremu, engaged the police team and suggested among other things that "if Fashola still smokes despite warnings that tobacco smokers are liable to die young; motorbike operators also have a right to continue their operations with provided warnings that bike passengers are liable to be injured in an accident".

As it became apparent that the police team might not be able to handle the growing crowd, the police barricaded the road with one of their vans. Protesters however seized the road and sat on it until several pleas got JAF leadership to lead the protesters back to the NLC building for an invitation to discussion the matter of the ban on motorcycles with State officials.

JAF leadership has insisted that motorbikes must be permitted to return to commercial operations, arguing that if a BRT lane could be dedicated for Lagbus, the same option would work for bikes to operate safely, in opposition to creating mega unemployment in the guise of creating a mega city.

Source: Sahara Reporters.

Will the Okada riders heed the advice of the state government, or will Governor Fashola eat his words, retrace his steps. . . and spend his remaining tenure in peace and quietude.

We are all watching. . .