The Nigerian government has enforced a ban all motorbike and motorized tricycle taxi effective 1st February 2020 on all major roads and bridges in the business capital, Lagos.
Locally called “okadas”, and “keke napeps” respectively an overflow in the two means of transport has led to traffic, chaotic roads, and increased deaths.
The government plans on extending the ban to other areas once an impact assessment is done.
City official Gbenga Omotoso is quoted by local media as saying these vehicles will not be allowed in these areas of the city: Ikeja, Lagos Mainland, Lagos Island, Apapa, Surulere, and Eti Osa.
However, Nigerians online have protested the ban, with some saying motorbike taxis help them beat the city’s notorious traffic jams.
Tricycles or Keke Napep as Nigerians call them, are one of the most prevalent means of street transportation in many Nigerian cities. Keke Napep became more popular after the Prohibition of the use of Motorcycles (popularly referred to as Okada) in major cities of the Federation.
Keke Napep is one profitable business in the busy city of Lagos with one earning up to 120,000 Naira monthly about UGX 1,217,595 or even more besides creating employment.
According to the Lagos State Government and the State Security Council between 2016 to 2019, there were over 10,000 accidents recorded at the General Hospitals alone. This number excludes unreported cases and those recorded by other hospitals.
Also, the rate of crimes aided by Okada and Keke keeps rising.
