Bike-hailing startups, Gokada, ORide, MaxNG and other
commercial motorcycles (okada) have been banned from plying 15 out local government areas in Lagos State. The
ban also affects Keke Napep (tricycle) operators within the state.
The move was anticipated after several confrontations
between government agencies and commercial motorcycles and tricycles operators.
The ban, according to the government, will take effect from this weekend,
February 1, 2020. Reason for the ban was not disclosed.
LGs where the ban is effective: The 15 local government areas include
Apapa, Apapa Iganmu, Lagos Mainland, Yaba, Surulere, Itire Ikate, Coker Aguda,
Eti-Osa, Lagos Island, Ikeja, Onigbongo, Ojodu, Ikoyi-Obalende, Iru
Ikoyi-Obalande and Lagos Island East.
Residents of these local government areas won’t be able to
utilise the services of bike-hailing startups like Gokada, ORide, MaxNG. They
will also not be able to patronise the services of other motorcycles and
tricycles (Keke Napep) operating in their vicinities. Note that ORide and MaxNG
also have tricycles in their fleet. The ban will likely make some riders
redundant.
Is this a clampdown by government? The new development is
somewhat confusing as the government has been seeking ways to end traffic
gridlock on its roads. The state is in need of transportation options in order
to reduce the number of cars on the road.
Lagos State bans Gokada, ORide, MaxNG, others from 15 local
governments So, banning bike-hailing rides and tricycles from these areas
conflicts with the utterances of the state government. The bike-hailing
operators, most especially, have been providing succour to Lagosians due to the
constant traffic gridlock. So rather than offering support for the growth of
the bike-hailing service, the government has been clamping down on them.
Apart from Police and NURTW’s crackdown on bike-hailing
riders, the Lagos State Government is also considering a license fee request
from Gokada, MaxNG and ORide. The government is reportedly planning to introduce
N25 million annually per 1,000 bikes for the bike-hailing market. Gokada and
ORide, however, said they were open to government regulations.
