Okada riders in Lagos get Tuesday deadline to start wearing jackets

-Commercial motor cycle operators in Lagos to start wearing jackets.

-The police say any commercial operator without the approved uniform would be arrested.

Commercial motor cycle operators in Lagos state get new operational guidelines.

Lagos state has issued a Tuesday deadline for all commercial motorcycle operators (okada riders) operating in the state to start wearing approved reflective jackets while on the road or get arrested.

Addressing riders on Friday, the Lagos state Commissioner of Police, Edgal Imohimi, stated that the only way police could guarantee the safety of both the commercial operators and their customers is by ensuring the riders were the approved uniform.

He said the police would find it easy to distinguish between genuine commercial motorcycle operators and criminals hiding under the guise of commercial motorcycle operators once the use of the uniform is enforced.

READ ALSO: Lagos bus conductors to get uniforms as from 2018

The police chief identified the yellow and pink reflective jackets as the one approved for members of Motorcycle Operators Association of Lagos State affiliated to the National Union of Road Transport Workers and the National Motorcycle Owners and Riders’ Association of Lagos State, respectively.

All operators without proper registration and identification, found on the road from Tuesday would be arrested for illegal operation according to the police commissioner.

He said, “If you want to be a commercial motorcycle operator in Lagos State, you must belong to either NAMORAL or MOALS. All commercial motorcycle operators are, as from Tuesday, expected to have been registered.”

“Motorcycle operators must wear reflective vests designed by the unions with their names and numbers.”

“The vests are numbered. There are emergency numbers to call in case a passenger has a problem with any commercial motorcycle operator.’’