Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, on Thursday, advised residents of Lagos to support the state government on the ban on motorcycles (Okada) and tricycles in the state.
Fashola gave the advice in Lagos at the 4th annual public lecture organised by United Action for Change with the theme “Security of Citizens as a Social Contract’’.
The event was convened by Dr Muize Banire, former National Legal Adviser of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and a three-term commissioner in Lagos.
He said the ban was backed by legislation and Lagos residents should look beyond the immediate comfort provided by the commercial motorcycle operators to the long term benefits of safety.
He called for the reintroduction of taxis as a viable means of transportation befitting a mega city like Lagos alongside other intermodal means of transportation being evolved by the state government.
“I think that we should all rally round government, commit government to ensuring that those services are completed and put in use.
“And we must not, whilst sympathetic to those who may legitimately have concerns about discomfort, livelihood, and all of those kinds of things, dismiss an existential threat to internal security,’’ he said.
Speaking on the topic, “Insecurity: Taking Action Against Organised Crime“, Fashola stressed the need to close all vacuums that allowed criminals safe haven to breed within communities.
He called for policing of open spaces and empty houses nationwide to tackle various kinds of crimes and criminality which, according to him, is the conduct of a few people who are giving government stress.
Fashola also called for ban on vehicles without registration numbers to remove identity concealment, adding that, all political office holders should use number plates no matter the time of the day or season.
