Lagos Taskforce impounds 66 commercial motorcycles

The Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Enforcement Unit (Taskforce) has intensified its enforcement operations across Lagos Island, impounding 66 commercial motorcycles, popularly known as Okadas, for violating the state’s transport regulations.

The operation, conducted on Monday, targeted illegal commercial motorcycle operators on restricted routes.

This was part of the agency’s ongoing campaign against activities it described as security threats and public nuisances across the state.

According to the Taskforce, enforcement officers visited CMS Bus Stop, Obalende, Osborne Roundabout, Abraham Adesanya Road, Lekki-Ajah Expressway, and Lagos Coastal Road, where the operators were allegedly found plying prohibited routes and obstructing traffic.

At the end of the exercise, 66 motorcycles were impounded, while normalcy was restored in the affected locations.

Speaking after the operation at the agency’s headquarters, Safety Arena, Bolade, Oshodi, the Chairman of the Lagos State Taskforce and a Chief Superintendent of Police, CSP Adetayo Akerele, said the agency had intensified intelligence gathering and tactical operations to eliminate illegal commercial motorcycle operations from restricted highways, bridges and other prohibited routes across the state.

“We have intensified our intelligence gathering and tactical operations to eliminate illegal Okada operations from restricted highways, bridges and other prohibited routes across Lagos State,” Akerele said.

He added that although some operators had devised new methods to evade enforcement, the agency’s intelligence-driven strategy would make it increasingly difficult for them to continue operating illegally.

He warned that future enforcement operations would not only focus on impounding motorcycles but would also lead to the arrest and prosecution of both riders and passengers found violating the state’s transport laws.

He further reiterated that all impounded motorcycles would be forfeited to the Lagos State Government through the courts in line with the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law, 2018.

The Taskforce said it would sustain enforcement operations across the state until full compliance with transport regulations is achieved.

𝕤𝕖𝕖 𝕞𝕠𝕣𝕖/𝕨𝕒𝕥𝕔𝕙 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕧𝕚𝕕𝕖𝕠 𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕖