Ban On Okada, Night Clubs: Police Commend Compliance

ONE month after the restriction order placed on commercial motorcycle operators, popularly called Okada, beer parlours and nightclubs in Ogun State, the state Police Command has described the compliance level as fair.

The order by the Police last August, restricted the operations of commercial motorcyclists not to operate beyond 8:30 pm, while beer parlours, restaurants and nightclubs were banned from operating beyond 10:00pm. This came on the heels of recent cult clashes in Abeokuta, the state capital.

It should be recalled that rival cult groups have been terrorising residents of the state capital in recent times. The last incident of August 31, 2015 recorded the death of three people, while two houses were razed.

According to the state Police Commissioner, Abdulmajid Ali, who announced the order, the restriction became imperative in view of the security situation in the state. “By 10:00pm, beer parlours must be closed, Okada riders must keep off the streets by 8:30pm. The Okadas are being used to perpetuate crimes.”

In an exclusive interview with the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Muyiwa Adejobi, The Guardian was told that the order was not from the police but the enforcement of the existing bye-law of the state. “We have bye-laws in the 20 councils in Ogun State that say Okada should not operate beyond 8:30pm. We are just enforcing this law and people must comply. We have given directives to all the District Police Officers (DPOs) and Area Commanders to ensure that the laws are adequately enforced. Any area we found wanting, the DPO would be sanctioned.”

He noted that the compliance level is at present 50 per cent, adding that effort is still being made to ensure total compliance.
However, The Guardian investigation reveals that the compliance level is still below average. It was gathered that military personnel, police and other uniformed officials still operate (as commercial motorcyclists) beyond the deadline, thereby hampering enforcement.

Adejobi confirmed this, stressing that a good number of police officials have been arrested for flouting the order. “Their mentality is who would arrest me. That was why we told all Service Chiefs to ensure the compliance of their personnel since the law is binding on everybody. We have written to them and we are soliciting their cooperation in this direction. It is a Nigerian mentality of ‘who is going to arrest me’.”

Meanwhile, some residents of the state have condemned the order. Majority of them like Petrol station attendants, Nurses and other essential service providers who closes late lamented that with the order; it has been very difficult for them to get to their homes, since taxi drivers would have retired to their homes at that time.

One of the affected persons, Adekunle Ojomu, told The Guardian that since the restriction order, he treks from his office around Kuto to Lafenwa, appealing that people in his category should be assisted by making the law more flexible.