The Transport Minister, Rotimi Amaechi on Monday said the Lagos state government might face unemployment and uptick in crime following its ban of commercial motorcycles and tricycles in some parts of the State.
“Implementation of transport policy is essentially a state affair,” Amaechi said on Channels TV’s Sunrise daily. “But he (Lagos State governor) has a problem to face, which are unemployment and increase in crime.”
Lagos residents have lamented the decision of the Lagos State government to restrict motorcycles (Okada) and tricycle from plying major highways and some roads in 15 local councils of the state.
Residents argued that the government should have provided viable alternatives before the restriction came into effect on February 1.
Amaechi noted that as a former governor of Rivers State, he sees reasons why the State’s government made the decision, although it might have repercussions.
“Speaking as a former Governor, when I was in Rivers State, they were using motorcycles to rob and kidnap people; and the police could never get them because they were using cars; so I banned motorcycles and we had peace,” Amaechi said.
“The number of accidents was also high – the orthopaedic hospital was full every day.”
He said the government’s decision to ban Okada and tricycle was in the interests of “a majority of Lagosians.”
Minister said it is not the “responsibility” of the Federal Government to intervene in the Lagos state ban of Okada and tricycle in the state.
“So you can’t be telling a state whether they want Okada or tricycles or not,” Amaechi said.
“That’s not our responsibility.”
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