Despite the ban on commercial motorcycle operations by Lagos State government, some operators, otherwise known as, ‘Okada riders’, are operating in parts of the state, like Ikeja, Ladipo, Mile 2, in defiance to the directive.
   
Some operators, who spoke to The Guardian yesterday, said they chose to operate despite the ban to feed their families. One of them, Aliyu, who operates Toyota Bus Stop/ Mile 2 axis, said he mostly plied highways in the metropolis to avoid being caught.
   
Another operator said he could not afford to allow hunger to kill his family, especially with the economic situation. Asked why they chose to disobey government’s directive, the motorcyclist said: “We have families and children at home to look after.  When there are no jobs provided by the state government, most of us rely on this Okada business to feed. What do you expect us to do?
 
“We understand that the police and other government agencies are always coming after us, but we have our own way of avoiding them.
 “Some of them already know we operate here and they allow us have our way without disturbance, especially given this current economic situation”.
   
Contacted, the Public Relations Officer of Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Enforcement Agency (Task Force), Mr. Badeniran Abdulraheem said the agency is fully aware of their operations, particularly on highways, but decided not to take actions against them due to the current state of the country.
 
Abdulraheem stressed that the agency had before now arrested defaulters, but because of the cash crunch effect in the economy, they choose to remain calm in going after them.
 
“We are aware that some commercial motorcyclists operate on highways. We will swing into action till the situation gets back to normal.  Also, the state government through the agency and other relevant agencies are trying to manage the tension in the state caused by cash crunch, insecurity crisis and outcome of the election,” he said.