This was announced in a statement signed by the state Commissioner for Transportation, Dr Frederic Oladeinde, on Thursday

He said, “There has been peace and improvement in security in areas where the activities of Okada operators have been halted, and we restate that security agencies are on the alert to continue to enforce the ban without any compromise.

“The state government has noticed the gradual return of some recalcitrant Okada operators in some restricted areas which would not be condoned by the present administration, hence the need for continuous reiteration that the state will not rescind its decision on the ban.

“We enjoin the general public to comply with the law on the ban of Okada in the affected parts of the state because both the rider and passenger are liable to three-year imprisonment if apprehended and prosecuted, and motorcycles impounded will also be crushed in line with the provision of Section 46, sub-section 1, 2, and 3 of the Lagos State Transport Reform Law of 2018.”

The Commissioner for Transport, Dr Frederic Oladeinde, said this during a news conference in Ikeja, adding that the Phase 2 okada ban was in four Local Government Areas and six Local Government Development Councils.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the state government in August, declared a total ban in another four LGAs and six LCDAs mainly in Kosofe (Ikosi-Isheri and Agboyi-Ketu LCDAs); Mushin (Odi-Olowo LCDA); Oshodi (Oshodi-Isolo and Ejigbo LCDAs), and Shomolu (Bariga LCDA).

”We implore the general public to comply, as both the rider and passenger are both liable to three years in prison if prosecuted.

”Their motorcycles will be impounded and crushed in the public view, in line with the provision of Section 46, sub-section 1, 2 & 3 of the Transport Sector Reform Law (TSRL), 2018.

”We implore the general public to join hands together with the state government by complying with the decision geared towards combating the monster that okada operation has created, so that sanity can return to our state,” Oladeinde said.

He said that 200 officials of the Lagos Traffic Management Authority had been deployed to join other security agencies to enforce the ban in the councils.

According to him, the extension of ban to four more LGAs and LCDAs is in the right direction to ensure security of lives and property.

”As a responsive government, we are not leaving the affected passengers stranded without any viable means of transportation, that is why we have made available alternative and sustainable means of transportation.

”The alternative transportation include the First and Last Mile Bus Transport Scheme, the BRT Scheme, the Lagos e-hailing taxi Scheme (LAGRIDE) and other acceptable modes of transportation, to go about their daily activities.

”The decision and position of government on okada is very clear, and we are not compromising on this decision, which is to further consolidate on the achievements made so far with particular reference to the decrease in accidents and crime,” the commissioner said.

The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Gbenga Omotoso, also reiterated that government was not leaving the okada riders stranded.

Omotoso said that the riders could approach the government as a cooperative to get the first and last mile buses.

The state Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Frederic Oladeinde, made the disclosure in a statement signed on Wednesday in Lagos.

Oladeinde explained that all adjoining and feeder roads leading to inner Marina road to Nitel building would be cordoned off.

He advised motorists to utilise JK Randle street through Force road to connect Broad street and continue their journey as inner Marina road/Odunlami Street from Outer Marina road would be barred from vehicular movement.

In the same vein, Oladeinde stated that motorists descending CMS Bridge to Cathedral Church would be temporarily diverted to UBA roundabout or Apongbon for onward navigation to other inner parts of Lagos Island to connect their destinations.

The transport commissioner assured that security and law enforcement agencies would be deployed to all strategic junctions/intersections and black spots to reduce delays and ensure the security of lives and property both along the routes leading to the venue and alternative routes highlighted.

Oladeinde extended the appreciation of the state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to the citizenry for their patience and understanding, adding that the state government sincerely appeals to the Citizenry for any inconvenience the diversion may cause.

The closure will be from Monday, January 17 to Saturday, April 2, 2022.

This is according to the state Commissioner for Transportation, Dr Frederic Oladeinde, who said the temporary closure of the bridge will be in two phases, Apapa Outbound, which will be repaired between January 17 and March 19, 2022, and the Apapa Inbound section of the bridge will be done between March 10 and April 2, 2022.

Traffic outbound Apapa will be diverted to give way for contraflow of traffic between RRS point and Total Bridge while motorists using lighter vehicles will be diverted to Marine Beach by Mobil Filling Station to connect Ijora Bridge or make use of the Service Lane by Leventis to connect Naval Dockyard to link Total Under Bridge and continue their journeys.

The Commissioner said for the inbound Apapa motorists during the second phase of the rehabilitation works, traffic will be diverted to allow contraflow of traffic between Total Bridge and RRS Point. Oladeinde added that motorists using lighter vehicles will be allowed to descend towards Total Under Bridge and make use of Fire Service Road to connect Marine Beach by Mobil Filling Station, while those heading towards Apapa will make a detour and connect Area B through NAGAFF using Mobil Filling Station Service Lane.

While assuring that palliative repair works have been carried out on all the aforementioned alternative routes to ameliorate the effect of the traffic situation and deployment of Lagos State Traffic Management personnel to manage the diversion plan, the Commissioner implored motorists to be cautious during the repair works as the project is aimed at providing quality and safe road infrastructure for everyone in the state.

The Commissioner of Transportation Dr. Frederic Oladeinde, while addressing reporters on the development, listed the four junctions to include the Second Lekki roundabout, Allen Avenue Roundabout, the Ikotun roundabout, and Maryland junction.

Oladeinde who addressed reporters alongside Commissioner for Information and Strategy Mr Gbenga Omotoso and top management staff of the ministry, led by the Permanent Secretary Mr Houtonu Wenu, among others, said the government in line with its executive order one has identified 60 very critical junctions that needed such expansions in order to relieve commuters of the nightmare of travelling on the roads.

According to Oladeinde, contractors, who would handle the four roundabouts, have moved to site and all would be delivered by April.

According to him, the junction improvements to be carried out at those junctions include the removal of the roundabouts and separating the streams of traffic through adequate traffic signalisation, synchronisation of the traffic signal lights through intelligent traffic system to recognise traffic densities and prioritise same, increase the capacities of the roads through lane stacking, upgrading of alternative roads and erecting of pedestrian barriers to separate pedestrian and vehicular conflicts on the roads.

Oladeinde said: “When completed, motoring public will experience improved travel time, free flow traffic, total decongestion, safer roads, and safer lives and property and overall economic development.”

He disclosed that men of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority would be mobilised to assist in freeing up traffic during the construction even as he urged Lagosians to cooperate with them and exercise restraint with traffic management officers who are out to make their travel time less stressful.

He said plans were afoot to ensure that all the 60 roundabouts identified by the government for improvement would be tackled within two years, adding that only 27 of such spots fall into mega roundabouts that needed major reconstruction.

Oladeinde further disclosed that the desire to commence cashless tolling at the Admiralty toll plaza, and the Lekki-Epe toll, as well as the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge, are also part of the measures to reduce the pains of the commuting public especially on that axis of the road.

He restated also the commitment of the government to the full activation of the rail and waterways transportation with the commitment to delivering the Blue light rail next year, while the red line will be taking off immediately after.

He said a seamless intermodal transportation is the ultimate key to unlocking the state’s traffic congestion.

The Commissioner for Transportation and his counterpart from the Ministry of Information and Strategy, Omotoso later led reporters on tour of the four roundabouts to witness the takeoff of the project.

The Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Frederic Oladeinde, in a statement, read the riot act to owners of event centres and places of attraction to desist from activities that could obstruct free flow of traffic.

The commissioner specifically cited the Lekki-Expressway where several man-hours were lost on Saturday due to traffic gridlock and apologised to residents for the road blockage occasioned by activities of the event centres.

‘’Henceforth, any social event where the number of expected visitors exceeds 50, organizers of such event must notify the General Manager of LASTMA in advance, especially if it is perceived that their property would not accommodate large numbers of vehicles that may be brought by their guests.

“The LASTMA authority will be on hand to advise them on what to do rather than allowing their visitors to block roads as this will attract stiffer penalties if caught.

“The state government will no longer condone parking of vehicles on the roadside, failure of the operators/ property owners to make provision for adequate parking space for their guests,” Oladeinde said.

The commissioner stated that it was regrettable that innocent citizens who were going about their lawful duties were forced to share in the pains caused by merrymakers.

Oladeinde warned that any commercial event centre, place of worship, night club/lounge, or private property owners caught on account of illegal blockage of roads by their attendants would be closed until their owners paid the stipulated fines.

He said vehicles towed for infraction or unlawful parking offences will not be released until the corresponding amount is paid.

According to him, there are so many event centres and places of worship on Lekki expressway operating without adequate parking spaces for their visitors.

‘’Many of these event centres and churches do not have enough spaces for their visitors especially on Lekki/ Epe expressway, most often, public roads are used for their parking.

‘’Efforts are now being made to address these critical traffic scenario and we will ensure that what happened on Lekki Corridor on December 14, 2019 is never repeated.

“Let me, therefore, warn all event centres managers once again that they are now under obligation to notify the LASTMA Authority of their scheduled events plans so that LASTMA can as well plan for efficient traffic flow in the area, failure to abide by this regulation, will attract stiff penalty”, Oladeinde concluded.