The African Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON), has criticised the hardship on residents following the ban on commercial motorcycles and Keke operators in Lagos metropolis by the Lagos State Government recently.
The National President of the Association, Otunba Frank Ogunojemite , said that the association was in total support of the Okada ban, but is yet to come to terms with its urgency, he added that the decision was taken and implemented without the government putting in place palliative measures to cushion the effect of the ban.
“APFFLON is not in any way against the ban because of the rising state of insecurity in the state. It is good Lagos State emulates other mega cities of the world in reorganizing its transportation system, as that alone will go a long way to restoring sanity in the state. The influx of people from across the country into the state, especially those who have no specific abode has really dealt a dazing blow on the state as open defecation has become the order of the day. The ban on Okada will go a long way to restoring sanity in the metropolis”.
The National President of the Association noted that the government should have engaged stakeholders before implementing its decision, adding that it landed so hard on residents as many now trek very long distances to their workplaces.
According to him, the sudden action would in no doubt have an adverse effect on the economy, citing great loss of man-hours and weariness after a long walk which will also go a long way to hampering efficiency.
” For example, we freight forwarders,port workers and government agencies like customs, NAFDAC, SON, etc can not get to TinCan area without a motor bike, unless the person treks from Mile2 to TinCan, no Shuttle buses because of the peculiar state of that corridor, the ongoing rehabilitation work on that axis has compounded the stress as contractors, tankers and trucks laden with containers restrict vehicles from plying the corridor, that is a major issue as no one knows when the road will be open for road users.”
” In 2017, the Lagos State Government embarked on setting up Cable Transport system which would have improved Transportation in the metropolis, as it is seen in most Mega Cities of the Globe; but the project never saw the light of the day, such laudable project would have also gone a long way to help alleviate the sufferings of residents in a time like this” he said.
Otunba appealed to Lagos State Government to up its game on security now that the ban on Okada and tricycle has been enforced.
He also stressed that there would be an increase in crime rates as a lot of people have lost their source of livelihood because of the ban.
He emphasized the need for job creation and an urgent need to put in place skill acquisition centers in almost all the Local Council Areas.
