A pro-democracy organization, Nigeria Peace Advocacy Group (NPAC), has urged support of the people of Lagos for Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on the restrictions placed on commercial motorcycles and tricycles from certain major highways and bridges in Lagos’
A statement from the group’s leader, Comrade Omolola Olukayode said the restriction was neither punitive nor an act of wickedness but rather, good development to safeguard the wellbeing of the citizenry and their property.
Olukayode reminded that, the law restricting them was not a new one but revival of an old existing law that is still subsisting in the state, saying, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is just enforcing the law for safety of lives, property and to curb acts of criminality.
According to the group, the operators and those affected by the restrictions should not see the enforcement of the law as a punitive measure but should rather consider it as a measure for the safety of lives and property of the people whose welfare the government must see as priority.
The statement stressed that, it is not a gainsaying that the two means of transportation have involved in series of accidents that had led to untimely death and in several cases amputation of limps which has rendered thousands of victims permanently incapacitated and disabled.
The means of transportation under discussion, the group reminded, have been turned into instruments for acts of criminality and banditry like kidnapping, armed robbery, stealing and ritual killings by some undesirable elements in the community.
No responsible and responsive government, the group stated, would open its eyes to allow such atrocities to continue under its domain and would not take drastic actions to arrest the trends, saying, Sanwo-Olu and his team deserve an accolade for the pro-active measure taken in this regards.
Besides, the group viewed the operations of the cycles as anti-Mega City, saying, such means of transportation should be restricted to where they would be less visible and not constitute nuisance to the serenity of the metropolitan.
Operators, who prefer the major roads in the state, the group suggested, should be advised to acquire some other gainful skills/trades to make ends meet, regretting that, regretting that, “nowadays, Nigerians resort to hiring labourers and artisans from the neighbouring countries to do some jobs that are meant for our people!”
“Nationals of neighbouring countries like Niger, Republic of Benin, Togo, Ghana and even Chad are the ones taking up the jobs at major construction sites that are meant for Nigerians who daily complain of no job,” the Advocacy organization lamented.
Concluding, the group, therefore, urged the people to see that the restriction placed on the operators is not punitive but for the good of the generality of the people and therefore them to show understanding and support the government on the issue.
