Residents of Olaniyi, Fagba and Oko-Oba areas in
Ojokoro Local Council Development Area of Lagos State have decried the
restriction order on tricycle operations in the area.
Our correspondent learnt that the Divisional
Police Officer, Oko-Oba Police Station, William Akintade, a deputy
superintendent of police, had in October, restricted the operations of tricycle
riders in the area to 10pm after a robbery attack which claimed the lives of
two policemen from the division.
But the residents who spoke with our correspondent
described the order as insensitive.
They wondered why the DPO would give such an
order which, they claimed, had inflicted pain on the people. A resident, who
identified himself simply as Gbenro, said notwithstanding the reason behind the
order it was “ill-conceived.”
He said, “You need to see how commuters suffer
every night. The street is not even among the restricted routes for
motorcycles. People trek long distances once it is 10pm all because of an
inhuman order.”
Another resident, Folake Ogundele, stated that
even if the police meant well, the result of the order had nullified its
intended merits.
She noted that the tricycles operators who plied
the areas were always scared of being manhandled by the police once it is 10pm.
Ogundele said, “I work on the Island and leave
office 9pm every day. There is this gridlock on Lagos roads that is becoming
perpetual. There is no way I can get to Abule Egba by 9:30pm. Most times, it is
either 11pm or some minutes before 12am. But when I alight, I always confront
many commuters waiting for tricycles that are not available. On a number of
occasions, I have had to walk home.”
She added that many of the commuters go as far as
Agbado Crossing, Powerline and Oke-Aro linking Olaniyi Street.
A resident who said he lives in an estate in the
area, Chibuzor Anthony, told our correspondent that he only came home on
weekends because he could not continue trekking to his house on a daily basis.
According to Anthony, Lagos is a city where such
order, if not carefully-addressed, will further worsen things.
He said, “The DPO should try and see what people
go through every night. This area is not the only place tricycles operate.”
A tricycle rider in the area, Mr. Kelechi
Egbujor, said the DPO’s order had inflicted untold hardship on the
residents.
“We wish we could work beyond 10pm to alleviate
their plight. But the police would not allow us. Since the banning of
motorcycles, tricycles should serve as alternative to the people “he said.
Another tricycle rider who identified himself as
Chima stated that any rider caught beyond 10pm usually had himself to blame.
Chairman, Three-Wheeler Unification of Lagos
State, Branch D, Olaniyi Unit, Mr. Adekunle Adegoke, said they had made pleas
to the DPO concerning the situation to no avail.
He appealed to the DPO to rescind the decision in
the interest of the commuters.
When contacted for her comment, the state Police
Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, who spoke with our correspondent, said
it was difficult for her to respond, citing bad network.
She said, “I am at a function with the
Inspector-General of Police. The network is bad but I will call you
later.”
Her call did not come and when our correspondent
tried her number again it was switched off.
When contacted on Tuesday, spokesperson for the
Lagos State Police Command, Ngozi Braide, said it was not possible for the DPO
to make any law.
Braide, who spoke with our correspondent on the
telephone, however, said the DPO could be enforcing a law made by the
government.
‘’It is not possible for the DPO to make
any law. In the case you are stating, the DPO may be enforcing the law made by
the state government.’’
Punch
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