The Exco was persuaded with the arguments that the daily contributions from the Okada riders to the unlicensed touts assuming the role of trade union could be deployed to change the face of the Okada business and health and safety of Lagosians.
Our earlier decision was premised on the rate of accidents across the state and the victims of such accidents on hospital beds across the state.
In line with logical thinking and holistic approach to challenges, we have decided on the following:
1) All touts that collect tolls from Okada riders and assumed associations are hereby proscribe
2) The daily N300 collection from the Okada riders shall be collected and managed by a civilised agency
3) With the figures on hand, 50,000 members contributing N300 daily will give the yearly N5.5billion
4) The said tolls collected will be used to finance and regulate the commercial cycle sector. The following will be the heads and units that will attract the IGR spending:
A) N600million will be used to purchase accidental insurance that will be comprehensive in nature. The effect of this is that no future accident victim of the Okada will be left out of pocket and the riders will be fully compensated in case of accidents
B) N1.8billion will be used as collateral to secure 10,000 tricycles and such investments in the purchase will be made over 5 year period by which I believe all the motor cycles would have been replaced by tricycles for hither land etc
C) A retraining scheme will be set up will N50million targeted towards the degree holders amongst the Okada riders
D) Completion of the retraining scheme will entitle each of tje graduate Okada riders N1m to set-up businesses of trained choice.
E) The total amount that will be committed to this is N500million yearly covering 500 over 5 year period
F) All Okadas in the state will be colour marked and each colour indicating where they will ply...
G) N100million will be used to purchase colour coded helmets for all riders in the State
H) to prevent the excuse being given for not wearing helmet, we shall commit N20million yearly for making disposable inner hats that all Okada riders must give to the passengers so that the passengers will be comfortable to wear helmet
I) N300million will be set aside yearly to maintain an enforcement agency
J) N100million will be provided to the management of police to complement the enforcement responsibilities...special and dedicated police men to be assigned to the scheme
K) N1billion will be used to resurface most feeeder roads as palliative measure pending the time the State Ministry of Works will embark upon asphalt construction
Fellow Lagosians, as you are aware, the tolls would not be collected in advance but the government in order not to be held back have spoken and agree the scheme with 3 major banks to provide the funding pending the time all the revenues will come in and my government provided the collateral/stand as guarantor.
Fellow Lagosians, we are of the opinion that if proper retraining becomes the bedrock in search for health and safety, the rate of accidents will reduce.
The compulsory insurance scheme for all the stakeholders will serve as safety net for all and such scheme will even expand insurance sector in Nigeria as a whole
Fellow Lagosians, unlike the ban syndrome we applied before, this scheme will take gradual kick-in effects but we believe that the remarkable change and the regulated commercial cycle riders will be a pacesetter and move away from the hitherto health hazard sector we used to have.
An agency has be set up and backed by the state Assembly laws and all riders are asked to report to the regional offices in their local government of residence for update.
Thank you and God bless you all...
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