619 people killed, injured by Okada in Lagos

NOT less than 619 people were among victims either killed or injured in commercial motorcycle accidents across the Lagos State in the last two years, a record by the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has revealed.

 The records from the Planning and Research Department of LASTMA revealed that out of the number, 107 people died, while 512 sustained injuries, adding that of those who died within the two years, 71 were male, while 36 were female. 

Details of the accidents between January 2011 and October 2012 further revealed that a total of 442 commercial motorcycles were involved in accidents across the state, out of which 271 occurred in 2011, while 171 occurred this year. 

According to the records, in 2011, 47 people were killed and 98 others sustained fatal injuries, while from January 2012 till date, 63 people have been killed,  while 59 others sustained injuries. 

Police records also revealed that a total of 513 fatal accidents recorded in the state in the last two years were caused by okada operators. 

According to the record, out of this number, 305 occured between January and December 2011, while 208 of the fatal accidents occured between January and June this year. 

The record also revealed that of the 30 robbery incidents that occured in the state between the months of July and September this year, 22 of them involved the use of commercial motorcycles. 

Details, according to the record, also showed that of eight robberies that occurred in July, seven involved the use of okada, while it was also used in 10 out of 14 robberies in September and five out of eight robberies in August. 

The Lagos State government, on August 2, promulgated the Lagos Road Traffic Law, part of which, among others provisions, restricted operators of commercial motorcycles from certain areas in the metropolis. 

Although, there had been rumors in some quarters that the state  government had banned the operation of commercial motorcycles in the state the government has maintained that it only restricted their operations to some areas, both as a means to regulate traffic and to reduce accidents and loss of life on its roads as a result of Okada operation. 

The Tribune