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    Once Again Police Cracks Down on Oride, Max.ng, Gokada Bikes in Lagos

    Oluwadamilare AkinpeluOluwadamilare Akinpelu
    October 11, 2019
    Once Again Police Cracks Down on Oride, Max.ng, Gokada Bikes in Lagos

    Thank God it’s Friday. Well, not everyone will agree at least not the ride-hailing startups’ riders and customers who were victims of a police raid earlier today in Lagos.

    According to reactions on Twitter, the incidence took place on the Island today, specifically at Adetokunbo Ademola and Ozumba Mbadiwe areas in Victoria Island, Lagos.

    Around 8am at Adetokunbo Ademola and Ozumba Mbadiwe in VI, Lagos @PoliceNG seized around 30 bikes belonging to various firms including @getoride @maxdotng – Spoke with the stranded drivers who said no explanation was given. @PoliceNG_CRU @PoliceNG_News @Opetodolapo @acplshaku pic.twitter.com/uvIFl98KE5

    — Rotus (@Rotankwot) October 11, 2019

    The raid saw the operatives of the Nigerian Police Force confiscate bikes owned and operated by the various ride-hailing startups, Gokada, Opay and Max.ng.

    No explanation was given…

    In one of the videos that surfaced, bikers belonging to the various ride startups claimed that the actions had taken place about three times already today and no explanation was given for it.

    Discussion continues. One driver said one of the @PoliceNG slapped a driver who asked why they were being stopped. I asked a couple Police officers why the bikes were seized and he said it was "orders from above." @ridwan_olalere @chineduazodoh @eajene @iamtomiwa pic.twitter.com/xfiyGNqIzG

    — Rotus (@Rotankwot) October 11, 2019

    In one of their statements, the bikers said the Police officers claimed they were operation based on “orders from above”.

    According to the tweets, over 30 bikes were said to be impounded and riders who were said to ask for explanations were reportedly harassed.

    Another Twitter user (@AchinekuTersoo), who was a user of one of the ride-hailing service when the crackdown took place, shared pictures of the police officers impounding the bikes.

    A pic of the scene shared by a Twitter user.

    According to him, the police officers only targeted the bike-hailing services (as they let other traditional Okadas pass), with claims that the business was illegal. And when the officers were asked for a reason, they told the bikers to come to their station for an explanation.

    Is the Nigerian Police Right on this?

    This country will kill you and your business. So Policemen at Ozumba Mbadiwe decided today that bike hailing services are illegal and started arresting @GokadaNG, @OPay_NG and Max riders. Okada is Okada one of the officers said. 🤬🤬 pic.twitter.com/SwlzcKaby2

    — D'Juvenile Gentleman (@AchinekuTersoo) October 11, 2019

    And since the videos/tweets have surfaced, many users have taken to Twitter to react.

    Some have claimed it was a ‘shakedown’ by the officers while others say it could be in accordance with the traffic rule that bans motorcycles on roads in Lagos.

    It was a scam. They just want egunje for the weekend.

    — D'Juvenile Gentleman (@AchinekuTersoo) October 11, 2019

    Okada is Okada, if they must stop all Okada riders on the high way, both branded and unbranded must be stopped period.

    — ceekay (@ckhot) October 11, 2019

    No person shall ride, drive or propel a cart, wheel barrow, motorcycle or tricycle on any of the routes specified in Schedule II to this Law. Section 3 – https://t.co/gxBkXdTH9c

    — Abbey (@adedbl) October 11, 2019

    This rule may be in reference to the road traffic law of August 2012, that outlawed the use of motorcycles below 200CC from operating on hundreds of roads in Lagos within the state metropolis.

    If 'okada' is banned in that section of the road; is the police not right to get them arrested?

    — Samuel Otu (@replyOtu) October 11, 2019

    But the ride-hailing startups have worked around this. All ensure that the bikes they use are with a cylinder capacity of 200 CC or more. These bikes are provided for riders upfront, which riders use under “hire-purchase” kind of scheme.

    Abiodun and the Gokada team
    An example of the bike currently being used by Gokada.

    This is becoming one case too many…

    Worthy of note is the fact that this is not the first time such is happening. Earlier in March this year, 22 bikes operated by Gokada and Max.NG was impounded by operatives of the Lagos State Task Force for operating on restricted routes and driving against traffic in Ikeja.

    Then, the chairman of the task force, Olayinka Egbeyemi, labelled Gokada and Max.NG bike sharing business as illegal and undocumented with the state government.

    Since this first incidence, there have conscious efforts by the startups, meeting with the various governments of the states they operate in – including Lagos.

    Recently, it was announced that the Lagos state government is also planning to effect a licensing fee for bike hailing startups to operate in the state. This shows a recognition of the startups by the state government and they might not be illegal as mentioned by security operatives.

    New post: Lagos State to Slam N25 Million Annual License Fee on Bike Hailing Startups https://t.co/mxbaGo5y5b…

    — TechNext.ng (@technextdotng) July 22, 2019

    Up until press times, there’s yet to be any comments from either of the government/regulatory agencies or the ride-hailing startups.

    So, it remains to be seen if this a government-sanctioned the raid for law defiance by the startups, or it is just a shakedown by police operatives. Whichever one it is, this is not a good development for the ecosystem.



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    Oluwadamilare Akinpelu

    Oluwadamilare Akinpelu

    Oluwadamilare Akinpelu is a lover of the Tech World. He is a calm person and also a protean writer.

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