See What Is Going To Replace Okada & Keke Marwa In July, LASG Reveals (pics)

The Lagos State Government says it will from July introduce what it describes as First Mile and Last Mile (FMLM) mobility solution to replace banned Okada and tricycle.

The FMLM are buses with certain specifications.

Frederick Oladeinde, the state’s Transportation Commissioner said at the 2020 ministerial press briefing at the JJT Park, Alausa, Ikeja, that, “Following the restriction of motorcycles and tricycles for commuter operations in some areas in the metropolis, the government is working on implementing a First Mile and Last Mile (FMLM) mobility solution.”

He explained that Okada and tricycle are not part of the state’s transport architecture, adding that they are constituting nuisance on the roads and responsible for the high rate of accidents and crimes.

“We have identified 285 last mile routes within the seven bus reform initiative zones across Lagos. We have developed bus specifications and shared same with potential bus manufacturers. We expect these to be rolled out in the next two months,” Oladeinde said.’

Lagos State Government has inaugurated 37 roads and carried out repairs and rehabilitation of more than 354 others.

It said that ongoing and uncompleted projects inherited from past administrations would be completed to improve the living standard of Lagosians.

Recall that the Governor Sanwo-Olu administration earlier this year imposed a total ban on the use of motocycles and tricycles, with very tiny exception, over security and health concerns.

The government claimed it did not license any group or business to run commercial services with motorcycles — in first conceret reaction to the controversies trailing the ban.

Gbenga Omotosho, the state’s Commissioner for Information and Strategy said on Channels TV Sunrise Daily that the ban was imposed following threats to public health.

“You are talking about registration; as far as I am concern, the government has not registered any company to come and be running okada.”

He added, “In fact, what the government was trying to look at is how to regulate these people so that their excesses can be curtailed.

“But as far as I know, nobody has been licenced to go and start running okada because it is unfortunate that … the rate at which people are dying; the rate at which people are being robbed on the roads; the police are worried, everybody is worried.”

He made the comments a day after the government announced that it would enforce the ban on motorcycles and tricycles (also known as keke) on major roads and bridges on February 1.

Omotosho explained that the State Security Council took the decision after a robust assessment of the debate on the rate of accidents in the state.

According to him, the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) recorded about 104,000 accident cases involving the common Lagosians with broken arms and legs.

The commissioner stressed that a large number of those he called the poor people have asked the government to ban okada.

He noted that the areas with the highest figures of fatalities were areas dominated by a large population of poor.