Price Hike: Okada Riders Take Advantage Of Lagos Marathon

Commercial motorcyclists,
otherwise called “Okada’’, on Saturday took advantage of the restriction of vehicular movement on certain roads for the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon to operate on restricted corridors.
The Tide source reports that the Okada riders took advantage of the stranded commuters at bus stops along Ikorodu road to charge exorbitant fares in the metropolis.
Reports had it that between Maryland and National Stadium bus stop in Surulere, they charged as much as N700 and N1,500 for what ordinarily should have been N200 depending on the operator, while between Fadeyi and Maryland or stadium, they collect between N500 and N1000.
People who could not wait till 10 a.m. were the ones who rode on commercial motorcycles, that in most cases carried two persons in violation of traffic law.
Those who could not afford it resorted to trekking long distances.
Some commuters who spoke with reporters said one side of the 10-lane Ikorodu Road would have been left open since the athletes were only using one side.
It was also observed that some people were not aware of the marathon as they were shocked to discover that the roads were empty.
Reports say that the route for the marathon was closed for use to the public from 7 a.m. when the race started, policemen lined the route to forestall breakdown of law and order.
Commuters were seen on the major highways stranded, while some complained of inadequate information about the closure of the affected roads.
However, the heavy presence of the commuters was also attributed to the popular night vigil by the Redeemed Christian Church of God along Lagos-Ibadan expressway which coincided with the timing of the marathon.
Our correspondent reports that many of the commuters looked weary from the all night service.
A civil servant, Tayo Owoseni, coming from the all night service, said the gridlock was unavoidable for many of them.
“We cannot escape it because the timing of the closure clashed with the time we are coming from the Holy Ghost Congress, how can we escape it?
“To get to this point from Lagos-Ibadan expressway took us about one hour but on getting to the Ketu end of the expressway, we were told we cannot go further.
“Government should have provided alternate routes for us,’’ she said.
Kudirat Musibau, a trader at Apongbon market on Lagos Island, claimed ignorance of the restriction order, saying it was a strange development to her.
“I never had anything about this restriction, nobody informed me because I am used to going to market very early and returning late in the night.
“I got to know about the order when I got to Ojota and saw the long queue which initially, I supposed will soon fizzle out.
“I was told later that the roads were barricaded because of the restriction order. So, I will just have to stay until we are released,’’ she said.
Our correspodnent reports that the Ogudu end of the road was opened to users at exactly 10.28 a.m.