Published 12th Jun, 2022

By Joseph Adeiye

About 70 motorcycle passengers and 7 riders have been awarded a six-month-imprisonment sentence with a N50,000 fine option for violating the motorcycle ban which came into effect in Lagos on June 1.

Ben Hundeyin, Lagos Police Public Relations Officer, revealed that magistrates had issued these sentences as of Saturday.

“So far, 7 riders and 70 passengers have been prosecuted,” Hundeyin said on Saturday. “Magistrates have been awarding N50,000 fine or 6 months imprisonment (to the prosecuted riders and passengers). For those wondering, many offenders abscond leaving motorcycles behind.”

MOTORCYCLE BAN: So far, 7 riders and 70 passengers have been prosecuted. So far still, Magistrates have been awarding N50,000 fine or 6 months imprisonment (especially for the unruly/confrontational ones). For those wondering, many offenders abscond leaving motorcycles behind.
— SP Benjamin Hundeyin (@BenHundeyin) June 11, 2022

Hundeyin had reported that over 2000 apprehended motorcycles were crushed by the Lagos police command on June 3.

Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Governor of Lagos State, ordered the ban of motorcycle taxis in Ikeja, Surulere, Eti Osa, Lagos Mainland, Lagos Island and Apapa with effect from June 1.

Under the new total ban of motorcycles in six local government areas of Lagos State, passengers and riders alike will be arrested and prosecuted. The passenger is an accomplice. Ignorance will not be an excuse!
— SP Benjamin Hundeyin (@BenHundeyin) May 21, 2022

The current ban follows Section 46 of the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law 2018.

Section 46 (1) of the 2018 Law states that “no person shall ride, drive or propel a motorcycle or tricycle on a major highway within the state, and any person in contravention of this provision commits an offence liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of three years, with such motorcycle or tricycle forfeited to the state”.

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