Nigeria’s business capital, Lagos, will ban commercial motorcycles from many areas of the city, citing overcrowding and safety, authorities have said. Companies such as Max.ng, ORide and Gokada have been aiming to capitalise on the congested Lagos roads to expand their operations. But Gbenga Omotoso, Lagos state commissioner of information and strategy, said the ban would affect all passenger companies and only courier service companies would be exempt. Startup Gokada also raised $5m last year for its Lagos operations. “We don’t know how it’s going to be enforced.”ORide, part of OPay in which Norwegian software firm Opera Ltd has an equity interest, also offers ride-hailing motorcycles in Lagos.

Source: The Guardian January 28, 2020 10:44 UTC