The Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Unit (Task Force) has impounded 63 motorcycles as part of its intensified efforts to enforce the ban on commercial motorcycle (Okada) operations in restricted areas of the state.
The Chairman of the Task Force, CSP Adetayo Akerele, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday by the agency’s spokesperson, Mr. Abdulraheem Gbadeyan.
Akerele said the agency had launched a targeted enforcement operation against defiant Okada operators who continue to ply banned routes, highways, and bridges despite repeated warnings.
“This operation, which has been reinforced in areas where recalcitrant Okada riders were observed, resulted in the seizure of 63 motorcycles,” he stated.
The latest enforcement drive covered locations such as Mile 2 Oke Bridge, Mile 2 Under Bridge, Berger Suya, Amuwo Odofin, and Apple Junction in the Festac area—zones where operators were found flagrantly disregarding traffic regulations.
Akerele emphasized the agency’s collaboration with other security outfits and reaffirmed their zero-tolerance stance toward violations of the restriction order.
“The ban on Okada operations in certain areas was instituted to safeguard the lives and well-being of all Lagosians. We will not condone any breach of this directive,” he said.
He warned that violators who continue to operate in restricted zones and endanger public safety would face the full weight of the law. The impounded motorcycles, he noted, have been confiscated, and legal proceedings will be initiated against the offenders.
Reiterating the government’s commitment to public safety under the THEMES+ agenda, Akerele urged Okada operators to comply fully with the law and called on residents to support enforcement efforts by reporting infractions and avoiding the use of motorcycles in banned areas.
He assured the public that enforcement patrols would be sustained across the state, particularly in areas with high incidences of illegal Okada activity.