1st July, 2015
Eromosele Ebhomele
A coalition of civil society groups under the aegis of Concerned Human Rights and its Allies, on Tuesday held a peaceful protest in the Agege area of Lagos State, western Nigeria in an attempt to have the state governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, rescind his 21-day ultimatum to tricycle riders in the state.
The group, which noted that tricycle riders do not ply highways, added that it is not right restricting tricycle operators from plying some routes in the state.
Speaking on behalf of the coalition, Comrade Declan Ihekaire noted that the ultimatum was an offshoot of the Road Traffic Law of the state which, itself, is of double standard.
“While conceding the fact that a city like Lagos with its cosmopolitan nature deserve the best of traffic rules, regulations and laws, it is equally important that such rules must take into cognizance eevery necessary indices in taking informed decisions,” Ihekaire said.
The group said its complaints include that security operatives in the state have now seen the law as an opportunity to extort Nigerians, especially riders of motorcycles and tricycles.
Ihekaire said with the restriction on motorcycles, the tricycles became only of the only choices left to poor Nigerians.
He however said that further restriction on tricycles as decided by Governor Ambode would worsen the plight already beign suffered by Nigerians.
He said with the restriction, one of the problems faced by tricycle operators is that they would still have to come through the restricted routes to buy fuel since filling stations are lacking in some of the open routes.
They however end up arrested when they pass through the routes to filling stations.
He lamented that the implementation of the Road Traffic Law is one-sided since tanker and trailer drivers flout the law with impunity while security operatives only target motorcycle and tricycle riders.
“The common occurrence is that while the state government, through the police, LASTMA and other law enforcement agencies chase the tricycle riders up and down like hunter after a game, the local government on the other hand has turned them into a cash cow issuing all sorts of parking permits and operational licenses within the so-called restricted areas.
“Thus double standard, has in no small way turned the government into a laughing stock,” Ihekaire said appealing that the law be given a democratic face.
“Almost all the filling stations are located within the restricted area.
“At this time in the life of Governor Ambode’s government, we believe that the policy of the government must deviate from the draconian style of dictatorship from the Olympian height.”
Thee group also called on the Lagos State House of Assembly to review the law.