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Abiodun OmotoshoThe Nigerian Police has restricted a group known as #OccupyLagos as they stage a protest against the ban on Motorcycle popularly called “Okada” and Tricycle known as “Keke Marwa” or “Keke be NAPEB” during the 2020 Access Bank Lagos City Marathon opposite the entrance of Atlantic City, Lagos where the marathon was held on Saturday.
The protesters who were mostly youths numbering about 30, were led by an unidentified person to the scene, carrying placards.
The group who later moved to the corner of the space infront of the Atlantic City, were restricted by a senior police officer who further instructed his men and women to block them the more. “Are you fearing them, push them push, I say push them.
Some of the inscriptions on the placards read: “Okada/Keke ban: Day 8 wia is d Alternatives dey?!”, “Lagos is the world unbelievable City after Damascus. Don’t make it any worse”, “BRF fit enter my street?”, “Lagos is walking & not working”, “What is the next step”.Other inscription include: “Will the Ferry come to my street”, You owe us Accountability”, ” Children are walking, Students are walking, Workers are walking, Lagos is walking”, “9am to 5pm not 5am to 9pm” and “What is the next step?”.
It will be recalled that the Lagos State ban Okada from plying 15 local government roads in the state since 1st of February 2020. The government said its not going back on its decisions on the matter.He said they took the decision based on the level of danger they have seen to have happened to the people.According to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, he said his Government as a responsible Government will not fold it’s arms and allow Okada riders put the lives of Citizens in danger. “As a responsible Government, we will not fold our arms and allow Okada riders put our lives in danger”.
Sanwo-Olu said one life is more pertinent than all the economic gain to be made. “One life is more important to us than all the economic benefits to be made if we allowed them to continue. We uà0nderstand that investment too can be critical, but keeping people alive and safe is more germane”.
After the push, the group stayed put and just displaying placards as onlookers gazed at them at the corner they were pushed to by the police.
