Following the proscription of their activities by the state government earlier this week, pilots and operators of bike-hailing startups like Gokada, Max and ORide have taken to the streets of Lagos in protest.

The protest which majorly carried out by Gokada and OPay riders was staged from Oregun to the Lagos state secretariat in Ikeja.

Carrying placards with inscriptions like ‘REGULATE US NOT KILL US,’ ‘#OUR JOBS MATTER,’ and ‘REGULATENOTBAN’, the riders called on the state government not to ban but rather regulate their activities.

This is not the first of the ride-hailing riders’ protest. A few days ago, one Gokada rider, through the startups’ twitter page, lamented the impending loss of his job and the repercussion to the livelihood of his family.

Technext announced earlier this week that the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, said that the government would enforce the ban on motorcycles and tricycles in six local government areas, as well as major highways and bridges from February 1.

Following the impending implementation of the ban, riders of ride-hailing startups and commercial operators made a case for themselves, insisting that they have always operated within the provisions of Lagos state transport laws.

However, the Lagos State commissioner of transport, Dr. Frederick Olaseinde has made it clear that a reversal is impossible because the government is going back to the Lagos master plan and motorcycles and tricycles are not part of that plan.

For now, Gokada, Max.Ng and the rest would do well to stay off the restricted areas from February 1st as the government has warned that offenders and violators would be dealt with in accordance with the laws of the state.