Amaechi On Okada Ban In Lagos: Sanwo-olu Acted Based On Public Interest

Temidayo Akinsuyi, Lagos

Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi on Monday said Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu must have considered the interest of a greater percentage of Lagosians before deciding to ban Okada and tricycles in some parts of the state.

Speaking on Channels Television programmed ‘Sunrise Daily’, the Minister who was a former governor of Rivers state said he also took the decision to ban Okada during his tenure as some people were using it to rob and kidnap people.

He, however, said banning Okada and tricycles without provision of alternatives may force people to go into crimes, as their means of livelihood has been taken away from them.

“I don’t know the reason why the governor of Lagos banned Okada and tricycles, only he could tell because, for a governor, the interest of the larger society far outweighs that of a particular group of people”.

“He must have made the decision based on the interest of the larger majority of Lagosians. Now he also has a problem to face. I’m sure he must have addressed it in his mind before he took that decision”.

“One of them is an increase in crime because all those Okada and tricycle riders are providing for themselves a means of livelihood”.

“Now if you ban it and there is no alternative, the chances are that some of them may go to crimes. But believe me, he may have made that decision based on the interest of the greater majority” he said.

independent