Residents of Lekki Phase I estates are calling for a permanent ban on motorcycle taxis (okada) in the area.
The chairman of the Lekki Peninsula Phase I Residents Association, Abayomi Idowu said the residents can no longer harbor motorcycle taxi operators whom he said breed slums in the area.
He called on security agencies to strictly enforce the ban on okada riders in the area as their operations compromise the security of lives and property.
“Governor Sanwo-Olu banned it last year but if you ban something and you don’t enforce it, it will continue.
“This time around, we’re going to support the government and do whatever we can do also to enforce it, enough is enough.
“Number one is by preventing them from gaining access into all our inner streets and we are also going to step it up,” he said.
Mr. Idowu further called on residents and visitors to Lekki Phase I to patronize commercial mini-buses instead of risking their lives using okadas.
He said the mini-buses are more reliable and safer.
“If there is no market for a business, the business will not thrive. If there are no customers for okada, there will not be okada.
“So, we are also telling our residents to avoid taking okada. We have buses here that we can use, we advise our residents to stop patronizing okada men.”
He further called on residents to stop employing Northerners who are the majority of the okada men plying the area.
“Businesses and residents should stop using these people (Northerners) as their security men and gatemen because it allows them to build a community in the estates.
“They work there and bring their friends and brothers with them; they will sleep there and wake up in the morning and go.
“So, if you don’t have them as security guards, there won’t also be okada in here,” Mr. Idowu said.
