Terrorists already in Lagos’ — Primate Ayodele calls for urgent bans on okada, beggars

Popular cleric, Primate Ayodele, has issued a strong warning to the Lagos State Government over what he describes as rising security risks in the state, calling for sweeping restrictions on commercial motorcycle operators (Okada riders), beggars, and other street-related activities.

According to him, the presence of Okada riders and some street dwellers could pose a growing threat to public safety in Lagos if not urgently addressed.

He warned that the government must act decisively to prevent what he described as potential breakdown of order.

Primate Ayodele was quoted as saying that Lagos State should consider an outright ban on Okada operations across all parts of the state, arguing that their continued presence could lead to avoidable violence and insecurity.

He further suggested that individuals who pose security concerns, including beggars and itinerant street workers, should be relocated or removed from the streets under a coordinated government task force.

In his words, he urged the government to take immediate action:

“This is a very serious security alert for Lagos State Government. Lagos State should ban Okada riders. In all spheres of Lagos State, they should ban Okada riders. If we don’t ban Okada riders, they may injure Lagos State too.

All these wheelbarrow pushers, ban them. Ban beggars so they will not attack Lagos. If they attack Lagos, Nigeria will go into disorder.

These are warnings. The government should act now and remove people who are pretending to be mentally unstable from the streets. Government should set up a task force now.

Ban Okada for now—maybe for some years. If they see Okada, they should sentence riders to imprisonment.”

The cleric’s remarks come amid ongoing debates over the regulation of commercial motorcycles in Lagos, a sector that has already faced partial restrictions in several parts of the state due to security and traffic concerns.

His comments are expected to stir further public discussion around urban safety, transportation policy, and the treatment of vulnerable populations in Nigeria’s commercial capital.

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