Operators kick against ban on taxis, okada at National Theatre

Some artists and food vendors operating at the National Arts Theatre, Lagos, on Sunday kicked against the ban on yellow taxis and commercial motorcyclists in the premises.In separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the operators said that the ban would negatively affect their businesses.A metal sculptor, Sunday Akpan, told NAN that the ban would create logistic problems as it would be difficult to transport materials into the Art Gallery located at the National Theatre.``The gate is too far for us to carry heavy materials into the Art Gallery since I don't have my own vehicle,'' Akpan said.Another sculptor, Chibike Ndubisi, appealed to the National Theatre management to have a change of heart on the ban, in the interest of workers in the premises.He said most workers at the National Theatre required the services of taxis and commercial motorcyclists to move their wares in and out of the premises.Mrs Funmi Temitope, who operates a food and drinks shop in the premises, said that the ban would discourage customers from patronising them.``Some of our patrons do not have their own cars, therefore, if this ban is fully implemented, it will reduce the number of customers coming here,'' Temitope said.Another food seller, Mr Yemi Williams, said that there was no sense in banning commercial transport into the National Theatre-- which should be a public place.``This is a national monument, people should be free to come here at any time,''Williams said.However, Mr Ike Bitaseme, a trader at the premises, said that the ban would not affect his business because he used his own car for the business.Bitaseme, however, urged the National Theatre management to find a way of assisting those who relied on commercial transport for their business.NAN, however, observed that the ban was yet to be fully implemented as taxis and commercial cyclists were seen picking and dropping passengers at the National Theatre premises recently.
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