Arewa community tasks Nigeria Immigration on border security

— supports ban on Okada

Segun Oladipupo

The Lagos State Arewa Community (LASACOMM) has tasked the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to heighten efforts at checking influx of foreign elements coming into the country through the land border posts.

The body maintained that foreigners had infiltrated the commercial motorcycling business as those perpetrating crimes in the state and constituting serious threats to the lives and property of Lagosians.

It could be recalled that the Lagos State government had placed a total and indefinite ban on the activities of commercial motorcyclists in Eti-Osa, Ikeja, Lagos Island, Lagos Mainland, Apapa and Surulere LGAs effective from June 1, 2022.

A communiques to the effect which was released stated that “The restriction of Commercial Motorcycle (Okada) operators in some Local Governments in Lagos State is not a new law.

“It has been in existence for over 10 years. We resolved today unanimously that all our members must comply with the provisions of the laws of Lagos State.

“We are law abiding and we will always continue to intimate all our members to continue to be law abiding and operate only within the arm bits of the law.

“We support all measures taken by the Lagos State Government in it’s efforts towards protecting lives and properties of all residents.

“We condemn in totality the activities of all criminal elements who are mostly foreigners from Niger Republic, Chad, Cameroon and other neighbouring countries who have infiltrated the ranks of those genuine riders and thereby perpetrating all forms of crime in Lagos state and are constituting serious threats to the lives and properties of residents.

“We are calling on the Security Agencies to identify and arrest all those criminal elements masquerading as Okada riders.

“We are also tasking the Nigeria Immigration Service to step up its actions along the border line in checking the influx of those foreign elements coming into the Country without genuine intention.

“We are in total commitment and support to the administrative policies of the Lagos State Government getting rid of all security threats promoting peace and tranquillity, safeguarding lives and properties of Lagos and the massive provision and development of infrastructures facilities for all Lagosians.

“We are calling on all well meaning Arewa Community members to comply with our common resolve and avoid the Local Governments of Apapa, Surulere, Lagos Island, Lagos Mainland, Etiosa and Ikeja.

“We will work with the state government and the association of Arewa Okada Riders towards the implementation of extant rules and documentation of all riders in all Local Governments of Lagos State.

“We must have adequate data on everyone. We call on the Lagos State Government to be vigilant and take proper punitive measures on bad eggs within the security agencies.”