Kayode Kolawole
Lagos State Government has unveiled plans to commence Digital Registration of Commercial Motorcycles (Okada) and Tricycles (Keke)in a bid to capture over 80,000 unregistered operators.
Speaking at the launch, the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Transportation, Engr Abdulhafiz Toriola, said that transportation is important to any economy to work effectively, adding that the new development will enhance security, regulation, and improve efficiency for operators and the community.
Toriola, who was duly represented by the Director of Operations in the Ministry, Engr. Olasunkanmi Ojowuro, said there is a need to regulate those areas where okada and keke have been permitted as means of transportation.
According to him, “Our investigation shows that we have about 80,000 okada operators who have not registered with the licensing authority of the state and that is of serious concern to us, as it poses security and safety issues as well as leakage of fund that is supposed to go to the state.
“What we have done is to employ the services of SiiTech to digitally register all motorcycles and keke used as commuters for the movement of people in those areas where there is no ban. The data they would get would be submitted to the ministry’s department in charge of public transport services.
“When that is done we would be able to trace those who are operating without a licence, it would be easier for us to take them off the road via technology”. He said.
NEWSTODAYNG recalled that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, in 2020, had banned the use of Okada and Keke in selected Local Government and Local Council Development Areas, LCDAs, in the State.
