Photo: Lagosians Trek As Ban On Okada, Fuel Scarcity Bite Harder

“I really don’t know the purpose of a law. Is it to make the people suffer or to provide relief?" a woman, who gave her name as Janet, asked. Janet said she usually took okada as buses do not ply her route.

Another road user, Niyi Onanubi, said, “Higher fares, stranded commuters; these are what you get when a few people think they know what’s best for 18 million others.”

With the restriction of okada on some routes and the worsening fuel scarcity in Lagos State, many Lagosians who were stranded resort to trekking in order to get to their destinations on Wednesday.

Also, motorists were held up for hours following gridlock on most major roads. Findings showed that the gridlock was as a result of motorists struggling to buy fuel at some filling stations, ban on okada in some routes as well as the Sallah rush.

Lagos-Ibadan Expressway towards Seven-Up, Yaba, Iyana Ipaja, Ikorodu Road, Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, Oba Akran Avenue, Oba Ogunnusi Road in Ogba among others witnessed traffic snarl.

Some motorists and commuters, who spoke with Punch on the situation, attributed it to the Lagos State Government new traffic laws. They said the policy was not well thought out because it had only imposed hardship on the people.

There was also much pressure on the Bus Rapid Transit services as passengers cramped onto the buses. Many would-be commuters were seen in long queues awaiting BRT buses.