Lagos Okada ban.

 Governor Babatunde Fashola has banned the activities of commercial motorcyclists popularly known as okada riders on 475 routes in the state.

Over 60 per cent of Lagos residents ask, Where would these okada riders go to? This action by the governor will in no time have harsh consequences which I fear the government will panic over.

Section 41 of the 1999 Constitution states that, “Every citizen of Nigeria is entitled to move freely throughout Nigeria and to reside in any part thereof…”

From the aforementioned section of the constitution, it is clear that the okada riders are at freedom to move throughout the country in so far as they are citizens thereto.

Looking at sub-section 2(a) – (b) of the section under consideration which gives lawful grounds for derogation from this right, the action of the Lagos State governor can’t be traceable to that proviso to the constitution.

I sincerely hope the governor will not hide under the guise of Section 41 which gives him such power for the interest of “ public order “ amongst others because he can’t maintain public order by creating public disorder.

I however crave the indulgences of the okada riders who vandalised about 10 BRT buses at Onipan, on Ikorodu Road during their violent protest against the Lagos State Government to be peaceful in their action. This is so because under such circumstance, the police are covered by Section 33(2)(c) to pull the trigger. The Police Act of 1962, cap 359, LFN 1990 also gives the police legal backing under such circumstance.