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

·
January 27, 2020
·
2 min read

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.

Advertisement

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.

Be the smartest in the room

Join 30,000 subscribers who receive Techpoint Digest, a fun week-daily 5-minute roundup of happenings in African and global tech, directly in your inbox, hours before everyone else.
Digest Subscription

Give it a try, you can unsubscribe anytime. Privacy Policy.

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.

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.

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?


Also Read

Journalist feasting on tech, business, and policies. Looking to chat? Catch up with me, @eruskkii, on Twitter or send a mail to [email protected]
Journalist feasting on tech, business, and policies. Looking to chat? Catch up with me, @eruskkii, on Twitter or send a mail to [email protected]
Subscribe To Techpoint Digest
Join thousands of subscribers to receive our fun week-daily 5-minute roundup of happenings in African and global tech, directly in your inbox, hours before everyone else.
This is A daily 5-minute roundup of happenings in African and global tech, sent directly to your email inbox, between 5 a.m. and 7 a.m (WAT) every week day! 
Digest Subscription

Give it a try, you can unsubscribe anytime. Privacy Policy.

Journalist feasting on tech, business, and policies. Looking to chat? Catch up with me, @eruskkii, on Twitter or send a mail to [email protected]

Other Stories

43b, Emina Cres, Allen, Ikeja.

 Techpremier Media Limited. All rights reserved
magnifier