LAGOS, FERMA MAY CLASH OVER OPERATION OF MOTORCYCLES

Plans by the Federal Government’s Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme, SURE-P, and Federal Road Maintenance Agency, FERMA, to allow Okada riders operate on federal roads in Lagos may soon lead to clash of interest.
While the Lagos State government yesterday debunked the rumour making the round that it would soon allow the Okada riders back on Lagos roads as it plans to reverse the 2012 Lagos Traffic Law that restricted their activities in the state, FERMA said its taskforce, which would soon be on federal roads will not restrict their movement.
The insinuation that the state government may eventually reverse the law gathered momentum after Governor Babatunde Fashola reversed the contentious Lagos State University (LASU) school fees three weeks ago.
In a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Lateef Ibirogba, the government said it does not intend to reverse itself on the decision now or in the nearest future.
According to the statement, there are 9,100 roads in Lagos State of which motorcycles below 200cc are restricted on only 475, which represents 5.6 per cent, saying the results and impacts of the decision have been tremendous.
“Prior to the enactment of the law, we were recording an average of 16 motorcycle-related deaths across the state every month and an average of 646 injured patients from motorcycle related serious accidents at states secondary and tertiary hospitals.
“As at March this year, our statistics show only 1 to 2 motorcycle-related deaths and less than 100 motorcycle accident related injuries in a month. No doubt, we have all the reasons to thump our chest that we have been responsive and responsible in the discharge of our duty to the people of Lagos.
But SURE-P and FERMA said plans have been finalised for its taskforce personnel to commence work on the federal roads in state, which will also allow for Okada operation.
The National Coordinator, SURE-P/FERMA Federal Task Force, Mr. Abdul Razak Rafiu Otto in a statement sent to the media men by its National Director of Publicity, Mr. Olawale Oyeboh insisted that the taskforce, which is at the moment situated at the toll gate area of Lagos-Ibadan Expressway had come to stay.
He emphasized that unlike the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LATSMA, that arrests Okada riders plying on certain roads, the taskforce would not stop them from operating on federal roads, but cautioned them against disobeying traffic rules.
Source: National Mirror