Lagos Govt: Dispatch Riders Not Affected by Okada Ban

Matilda Omonaiye/

The Lagos State Government has clarified that the ban on motorcycle (okada) and tricycle in the state does not affect dispatch riders and courier companies.

The PUNCH reports that the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotosho, made the clarification today.

Omotoso said dispatch riders, courier companies, newspaper dispatching motorcycle, and motorbike riders, were exempted from the ban.

He however emphasised that those exempted must be appropriately kitted to make them easily identifiable to security agents.

He said, “Every officer to enforce this law has discretionary powers. Aside from the discretionary powers, courier companies, dispatch riders, newspaper dispatching motorcycles, and motorbikes are exempted from the ban and they must be well kitted. You wear your helmet, you don’t carry passengers and you have your box behind you to show you are a dispatch rider.”

Omotoso also explained that police officers have discretionary powers in certain cases.

“Also the officers enforcing the law know who to exempt. There may have been mistakes in the past two days, but such mistakes have been addressed and those arrested released with apologies,” he said.

Despite the protests in the state, Omotoso said the government did not plan to review the ban.

He said the ban would ultimately be to the long term benefits of the people of the state.

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