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Good day
The state of mobility has worsened in Lagos, Africa’s largest commercial city. On January 27, the state government announced a ban on the operation of commercial motorcycles and tricycles in some major locations in the state.
Many residents now experience more hardship in their daily commutes since the enforcement of the ban began on February 1. The ban also affects the activities of riders on the platform of bike-hailing startups like Gokada, Max.ng and Oride
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In the state, traffic gridlock is a regular occurrence because of the city’s large population and poorly-managed roads. The alternative for many commuters is to use commercial motorcycles (popularly known as okadas) to get to their destinations faster. However, both the state government and some residents have never hidden their disdain for okadas. Some of the reasons are because most okada riders are reckless, and cause accidents on the roads.
For many Lagosians, it was a big relief when ride-hailing startups came into the transport market a few years ago. These startups are keen on safety and getting passengers to their destination faster. As a result, many jobs have been created for thousands of young people. It is not surprising that riders on these digital platforms have staged different protests in the last three days to show their displeasure against the ban.
With a critical eye, one can say the action is not a good direction for a state that prides itself on innovativeness and investment readiness. Before now, the feelers from the state government seemed these affected startups are welcome in the state. Recently, the companies raised millions of dollars from foreign investors, but the recent development poses a threat to their existence and growth.
Cheers,
Team StartupLagos
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