Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola has urged
residents of the state to endure inconveniences accompanying the implementation
of the traffic law, especially the restriction of operators of commercial
motorcycles, popularly known as okada.
The governor spoke during the celebration of 2012
Community Day at the Police College, Ikeja on Thursday.
He said the difficulties currently being
experienced by commuters in the state were characteristics of the introductory
stage of every life-changing policy. He added that the law would be of benefit
to residents on the long-run.
Fashola said, “There will be no gain without
pain. You should be ready to sacrifice if you want reward.
“We have inconvenienced you in the past because
we are constructing roads, or drainages and within a short time, you will begin
to drive on the roads and see your environment flood free. This is the way we
can work together; sharing responsibility. The idea that everything should be done
by the government is not an idea that is good.
“The road traffic law is meant to keep you safe
and alive. Okada will not be our transportation model in this state.
Our state will not be a dumping ground for motorcycles.
“What we want from residents is some sacrifice.
When we were building BRT corridors a few years ago, people complained; but now
the BRT has been accepted by everybody.
“We seek understanding and sacrifice on the okada
restriction. It is for the safety of lives. It for the state’s development.”
The governor said the state would continue to
explore ways to improve its transportation sector and tackle present challenges
He added that the completion of the state’s light
rail project would also boost the transport system.
Meanwhile, Fashola has called on lawyers in the
state to help poor residents of the state to get access to justice by giving
them free services.
The governor, at a public interest law
partnership stakeholders’ meeting in Lagos on Thursday, said lawyers could
provide the free legal services as a social responsibility and a service to
humanity.
He said, “A good number of indigent residents
have been denied justice simply because they cannot afford legal services. This
situation undermines the principle of equality before the law.”
Fashola explained that the government established
the Office of the Public Defender, Citizen Mediation Centre and others, as a
response to the huge demand for free legal service. He added that the
interventions were inadequate.
“To fill the gap, the state government required
the assistance of lawyers in the private sector through the Lagos State Pro
Bono service, in delivering such services to the ever increasing population of
the state,” he said.
The Punch
1 comment:
I do agree completely with the concept that there can be no gain without pain. It is the basic sacrifice for a better life. However, the impasse here is the fact that there is no visible alternative solution for a more improved transportation system as well as a remedy to the service commercial motorcyclist render. It is complete chaos and madness out there. Bus fares have literally sky rocketed especially after office hours like we are paying to enter rocket ships and our destionation is the moon. Extortionist are kings of the road now. The traffic is unbearable. That's the moot point. We do hope that something creative is being thought up to help better the present situation of Lagosians. The downsides of the Okada ban to the economy would take its toll in the long run if something is not done about it. Workers productivity would be poor(after spending an average of 5hrs traversing lagos everyday), businesses would be delayed, deadlines hardly met, and crime rate increased. We need a solution, atleast the hope of one.
Benjamin Owobu
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