Lagos to enforce ban on Gokada, MAX, ORide, others from highways, starting February 2020

Following weeks of speculation and months of tussles between ride-hailing platforms and regulatory authorities, the Lagos State Government has officially announced the ban of all forms of motorcycles and tricycles in major parts of Lagos State.

Gbenga Omotoso, the Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, confirmed this development at a press conference held in Lagos on Monday.

“After consultations with the stakeholders, the state security council, in compliance with the extant transport sector reform laws 2018 has decided to commence enforcement of the law which bans motorcycles and tricycles,” says Omotoso.

For People asking: “What of Opay, Gokada and the rest, are they part of this?”

Lagos State Govt says YES. All forms of Commercial Motorcycles are included.#ForAGreaterLagos @dr_oladeinde @TFayinka @gbenga_omo @Riddwane @jidesanwoolu pic.twitter.com/XyJMlsXron
— Jubril A. Gawat (@Mr_JAGs) January 27, 2020

The commissioner stated that with effect from February 1, 2020, the ban will affect Local Government Areas and Local Council Development Areas such as

Apapa
Apapa-Iganmu
Yaba
Lagos Mainland
Surulere
Itire-Ikate
Coker-Aguda
Ikeja
Onigbongbo
Ojodu
Eti-Osa
Ikoyi-Obalende
Lagos Island
Lagos Island LCDA

What does the current law actually say?

The 2012 Lagos State Road Traffic Law (PDF), introduced by the administration of former governor Babatunde Fashola, only restricted motorcycles or tricycles with engine capacities below 200cc from operating on major expressways and highways. It also stipulated that motorcycles used for mail distribution or courier services should have a minimum engine capacity of 200cc.

Also, the transport sector reform laws of 2018 referenced by the commissioner also allowed bikes and tricycles with engine capacities above 200cc to ply major highways.

Prior to this development, both traffic laws allowed ride-hailing platforms like ORide, MAX and Gokada, which utilise vehicles above 200cc engine capacity, to thrive in the traffic-laden city of Lagos.

With this new directive, it appears none of them will be able to operate, and as a result, commuters may have to find other ways to beat the regular Lagos deadlock.

However, dispatch riders, food delivery riders and other logistics players like GIG logistics, Domino’s Pizza, and Max Delivery, do not appear to be affected.

UPDATE: Dispatch riders are NOT affected by the new rules on the bikes in Lagos, as far as they have their complete papers, bike is 200cc & above and their box is attached properly.. NO PASSENGERS. #ForAGreaterLagos pic.twitter.com/IgFOVkuUgu
— Jubril A. Gawat (@Mr_JAGs) January 27, 2020

As alternatives, the commissioner has stated that more buses will be rolled out to those locations, but the safety of transportation in the state has to be first ensured.

Also .. For people asking .. “What of Alternatives?”
Lagos State Govt says Buses will be rolled out for these areas but first thing is that, Transportation has to be SAFE & those areas will be adequately covered.#ForAGreaterLagos pic.twitter.com/R1VJFiDMNA
— Jubril A. Gawat (@Mr_JAGs) January 27, 2020

This move comes on the back a number of regulatory hurdles faced by ride-hailing platforms in the country, but will it really put the nail of these platforms, or could it be yet another scalable hurdle?

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