Fashola spoke at the 2012 Community Day celebration with the theme: The Role of Community Development in Tackling the Recurring Security Challenges in Nigeria through Grassroots Mobilisation, held at the Police College in Ikeja, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria on Thursday.
The governor said several states had banned commercial motorcycle riders also known as okada riders from operating, saying that many of them had relocated to Lagos to continue their businesses, adding that such would not be tolerated.
Fashola said it would be a shame for the next generation to ascribe okada legacy to him, saying that his decision to restrict the operators from plying 475 roads in the metropolis was one in the right direction.
“I will not lead a government that will leave okada as a legacy for our children. Okada will not be our model, our state will not be a dumping ground for okada. Other states have banned it too,” he said.
Fashola stated that though other states had banned okada outrightly, he only restricted them from 475 roads, while there were still about 9,000 roads for them to ply and that he was being generous enough to have done that.
On the hardship encountered by Lagosians due to the restriction, Fashola said: “there will be no gain without pains. We must be ready to sacrifice. Transportation is too important to our life. People who should live reproductive lives are now in the grave leaving their widows behind.
“The traffic law is to keep you alive and safe. Those who promise you a life without pains are deceiving you but I promise you a life of sacrifice and reward. The idea that everything must be left for the leaders is not good enough; the community has to be responsible,” he said.
Fashola stated that the government’s goal in the area of transportation was that of BRT and not okada, adding that the BRT scheme would soon be extended to Badagry and Ikorodu town, saying that the business was fast growing.
He advised those who still want to remain in the transportation business to form themselves into groups and come for a franchise, adding that government was ready to support okada riders who would come in groups with the BRT franchise scheme.
The governor also disclosed plans by the government to come up with blueprint on disaster management in the state and wanted the Community Development Associations, CDAs, neigbourhood watchers, among others to partner with the government to move the state forward.
Commissioner for Rural Development, Cornelius Ojelabi said the theme of the celebration could not have come at a better time than now considering the security challenges the nation was facing.
“The continuous spate of bombing, kidnapping and gun running in the country is a source of concern to everybody. We cannot afford to sit down and fold our hands in Lagos State, particularly taking into cognizance the cosmopolitan nature of Lagos and its being the economic nerve centre of Nigeria with its numerous industries, companies and banks.
“Similarly, our ports and waterways sharing borders with the Republic of Benin and other states, it makes it easily accessible to international robbers, smugglers and child/human traffickers,” he stated.
He noted that the governor, on assumption of office set up the Security Trust Fund, which had been very helpful to fight crime in the state.
On the Community Day, Ojelabi said government had handed over several projects to rural communities to open up the areas, adding that the demand by communities in Lagos had been very enormous.
“In the area of rural roads, we received 334 requests estimated at N268 billion, 17 jetties at an estimated cost of N1.1 billion, while we have requests for the provision of concrete foot bridges in our riverine areas to the tune of N288 million.
“In the area of potable water for our people despite the huge investment of the state government through the Lagos State Water Corporation and our ministry, 112 communities are requesting for modified type ‘A’ water scheme at an estimated cost of N1.08 billion. We also received requests for the provision of public toilets in our rural areas at an estimated cost of N59.5 million,” he disclosed.
—Kazeem Ugbodaga
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