Lagos State Government on Wednesday said both riders of commercial motorcycle and their passengers would be prosecuted for driving on expressways, bridges and other restricted routes.
Commissioner for Transportation, Kayode Opeifa, spoke during a stakeholders’ meeting with the transport unions and operators of the informal public transport in the state.
Opeifa expressed dismay that many days after the signing of the new traffic law by Governor Babatunde Fashola, a large number of motorcycles could still be found on restricted routes.
He said, “Section 3 (6) of the law stipulates that where a rider is convicted for riding or driving on restricted routes, not wearing a standard protective crash helmet or carrying more than one passenger, carrying a pregnant woman, a child below the age of 12 years or an adult with a baby or heavy load on the head or acts which obstruct normal sitting on the motorcycle, the passenger shall also be liable to the same penalty.”
Opeifa urged riders and passengers of motorcycles, popularly known as okada, to comply voluntarily with the law.
He added that the state had embarked on “massive enlightenment campaign” on the law and as such would not entertain any plead of ignorance.
Opeifa warned motorcycle and tricycle operators to withdraw from plying the restricted routes, saying those caught doing so would be sanctioned.
He advised unrecognised motorcycle associations to affiliate with the two recognised motorcycle associations in the state.
Opeifa said the law was made to reduce carnages on roads.
He pointed out that of the 9,100 roads in the state, only 475 roads were restricted.
Some of the restricted routes for motorcycle and tricycle operations in the state include all the bridges, highways and dual carriage ways among others.
The restricted routes are Lagos-Ibadan Expressway; Apapa- Oshodi Expressway; Oworonshoki-Oshodi Expressway; Lagos- Ikorodu Expressway; Funsho Williams Avenue; Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway and Third Mainland Bridge, among others.
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