One month after Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu banned the activities and operations of commercial motorcyclists, the Federal Government has announced that it is considering a ban on the use of motorcycles, popularly known as okada.
In May, Sanwo-Olu imposed a ban on Okada operations in six local government areas: Eti-Osa, Ikeja, Lagos Island, Lagos Mainland, Apapa, and Surulere. The total ban order also extends to all LCDAs under the listed councils.
The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, dropped the hint Thursday while briefing State House reporters after a meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He said an investigation revealed that okada were used for mining activities across the country and the ban could cut off sources of funds for terrorists and bandits.
The minister, who was flanked by his Interior and Police Affairs counterparts, Rauf Aregbesola and Mohammed Dingyadi, stated that the meeting focused on the logistics used by terrorists to halt their activities.
He said the government needed to act because terrorists had moved from the conventional ways of funding their activities to mining and ransom-taking.
Malami said the motorcycles were used by the bandits for movement, while mining provides them with the money to fund their arms supply.
Regarding whether the government would consider the implications of the ban on motorcycles and mining activities on ordinary Nigerians and the economy, the minister stated that the federal government would prioritise national and public interests over individual interests.
While speaking, Aregbesola said substantial efforts went into gathering intelligence before the recent attack on Kuje Correctional Center but regretted that there was an absence of will to act on it.
The minister, who said a preliminary report of the investigation on the attack had been submitted to the President, assured that a detailed report would be made available at the end of the probe.
He said those found to have abandoned their responsibilities would be punished.
