The talk in Port Harcourt is that operators of commercial motorcycles in Rivers State have taken the state government and Governor Odili to court for imposing a restriction on their operation within the State. A recent law stopped commercial motorcycles from plying their trade after 7:00 p.m. in any part of the state and owner/riders are not happy with this state of affairs. They think that they have been singled out for victimisation and that needless limitations have been placed on their means of livelihood in a typical poor man must not survive attitude of the Nigerian Government.

Their contention is that if other modes of commercial transport are allowed to operate beyond 7:00 p.m., then the reason given that armed robbers avail of services of commercial motorbikes to perpetrate criminal activities is unjustified given that robbers can and do avail of any commercial transport service. They pointed out that motor cycle riders are themselves victims of armed robbers and that the notion that a significant number of commercial riders are in fact involved in criminal activities is wrong.

Okada, Achaba, Goyin, depending on what part of Nigeria you come from, was never meant to be a means of public transportation, no way! Ignore the fact that the National Directorate of Employment gave out loans to buy motorcycles for commercial use as a job creation strategy. They crept into Lagos and other towns in Nigeria through such back water areas like Ijesha  and other places that originally were the outskirts, were yet undeveloped and plagued with roads that were little better than dirt tracks. Such areas suffered a dearth of other transportation modes and those savvy enough to recognise the opportunity soon made a tidy second income by providing transportation service using motorcycles.

They soon gained popular acceptance however and very quickly became the backbone of public transportation in city centres. They are as a matter of fact the preferred option of many for a fast and convenient means of getting from one point to the other and for beating constant traffic jams. Motorcycles according to patrons have other benefits over the rickety buses and taxis that are the alternative. The passenger does not get squashed up against other passengers with various hygiene needs in seats that yield more of their metal parts than is desired and give shelter to all manner of vermin, many like the body louse going home with the unsuspecting passenger.  

Since commercial motor cycles create the shortest routes between two points and they are not bound by any traffic codes, they were accommodated by the average Nigerian that would himself be bound by no laws. Sightings of erudite achievers like Fola Adeola perched on top of a machine (our affectionate name for the motorbike) in his white flowing agbada trying to make good time to a wedding where he was no doubt an important guest, have been reported in newspapers. Obvious acceptance and use by the more enlightened has therefore by proxy authenticated commercial motor cycles as a means of public transportation by the Nigerian public.

Given that commercial motor cycles and their riders have been with us for years now such that many of the foreign do-gooders who come to rescue Nigeria from poverty and corruption do not deem their visit complete without a ride on one of them, why are state governments and other municipal authorities beginning to see them as anathema? Lagos State has promised that Okada will no longer be allowed on their roads by the time their long awaited buses arrive. The bus lanes were marked a little over a month ago so the buses should be here anytime soon. Abuja Municipal Area Council is sending very strong messages to its Goyin operators that they are not welcome, leading other states in rebellion against our beloved machines. All this is happening when they have become indispensable to our transportation needs and when your average lout can afford one without NDE assistance.

The typical okada operator is rough uncouth and ready to beat up on you whenever, wherever. They are known to gather in their droves to attack the unfortunate motorist that aggravates one of them. Whatever your approach in the event of an altercation, you will come out the worse for wear and more likely than not you would be grievously hurt from a beating that other riders who had no knowledge of cause will deliver in esprit de corps with glee and blood lust. The police, if any happens to be near at such times, do the fast transmute that they are now known for in times of trouble, donning mufti at such speed that one would doubt having seen a police officer only split seconds before.

When they are not intimidating hapless motorists, these commercial motorcyclists dedicate time to the wilful destruction of other vehicles on the road and dare owners to complain while they throw insults in tandem with passengers who seem oblivious of threats to life and limbs, literally. They ride pedestrians down on sidewalks making journeys as perilous as possible while fellow miscreants jeer at those they accuse of being Johnny-come-lately. The National Orthopaedic Hospital in Igbobi will testify to the fact that commercial motor cycles contribute significantly not just to the death toll on our roads but also to the loss of livelihood for regular citizens who have been made invalid because of unfortunate accidents.

We have lived with this for so long so why would any level of government or misguided community security association want to threaten the continued existence of the commercial motor cycle.  Newspapers and magazines are full of tear jerking stories designed to buy sympathy for these Okada riders, most of whom claim aspiration to better lives when asked. Not one would admit to the criminal activities that are perpetrated by their numbers in full view of society daily. They tell stories of how this temporary undertaking is either to accumulate enough funds to start a trade or to pay their way through college. One look at this purported student and you wonder what kind of professional he would make on completion of his academic career if indeed he is a student going by apparent inability to articulate even the simplest thoughts.

However we helped to create them and they should therefore have public sympathy. There should be a movement to prevent the new threat presented by local and state authorities to the commercial motorcyclist. Something should be done now to stop the trend to impose restrictions on this indispensable public transportation mode. How can we be expected to return to those days when we all had to struggle for bus or trek everywhere? No longer can you find the average Nigerian willing to walk even the shortest distance where he could get on a machine. The entertaining sight of the woman clad in a long skirt riding side-saddle on the vehicle least designed to accommodate such. One woman, young pretty and trendy, got the hem of her skirt caught in the spoke of a motorcycle once by Falomo and got the rest of it yanked off her, irretrievably tangled in the wheel of the motorcycle. Her short midriff skimming blouse could not be pulled down over beaded g-strings and she found herself crouching low until another woman was kind enough to give up her scarf to restore some modesty. At least she was not mortally wounded.

This and other titillating tales of experience at the hands commercial motorcycles is reason enough to promote them as a tourist attraction. Least ways there are economic and social benefits to the proliferation of commercial motor cycles, jobs have been created that encourages able bodied young men to loaf at road junctions where motorcycles are parked three deep, causing a preventable obstruction in the traffic flow. Armed robbers and small time hoodlums who look no different from regular operators have been given a low cost and efficient get away resource.  More South East Asian countries have found a receptive market for cheap low quality motor cycles and young men have forsaken prolonged periods of vocational apprenticeships to make daily takes while indulging natural tendencies for the macabre. Ladipo Auto Market is reaping quick profits from the sale of tokunboh wing mirrors. All state and municipal authorities should weigh these benefits carefully before making draconian laws to outlaw the Okada. After all where were they when commercial motorcyclists came to our rescue.

Robot  Villager

# 1 ://www.nigeriavillagesquare.com/images/stories/march2006/okada.Okada, Achaba, Goyin, depending on what part of Nigeria you come from, was never meant to be a means of public transportation, no way! Ignore the fact that the National Directorate of Employment gave out loans to buy motorcycles for commercial use as a job creation strategy. They crept into Lagos and other towns in Nigeria through such back water areas like Ijesha a...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 26.03.2006 00:02

emj  Villager

# 2 Mutti, do u know that there are some people that OKADA rejects, this are the people that fall off the bike the very first day they attempt to ride on it. Posted by emj| 26.03.2006 00:49

Anike  Bibi ire: Agbe Gboko Rosu

# 3 One woman, young pretty and trendy, got the hem of her skirt caught in the spoke of a motorcycle once by Falomo and got the rest of it yanked off her, irretrievably tangled in the wheel of the motorcycle. Her short midriff skimming blouse could not be pulled down over beaded g-strings and she found herself crouching low until another woman was kind enough to give up her scarf to restore some modesty. At least she was not mortally wounded This alone is reason enough for papi Iyabo to overrule any action against the okada men. On a more serious note; the idea of using motorcycles for commercial purpose has to go. It's bad enough that neither the motorcyclist nor the rider wears a helmet, the motorcyclists even go as for as having two people on their okadas. At times a child is the second rider. Accidents happen everywhere but, as you've pointed out, commercial motorcyclists can be very lawless and terrorizing on the road. Something should be done now to stop the trend to impose restrictions on this indispensable public transportation mode. But alternative means have to be provided first. Like buses and more taxis. As for the commercial motorcyclists, it would be nice if they can be offered employments within the transportation sector, like bus operating or conducting positions, so long as they are willing to work on their aggression and intimidation. Posted by Anike| 26.03.2006 18:27

Obugi  Villager

# 4 All, Sometimes it takes a lot of pain to realize some gain. In my opinion, the FG, State and LG's should ban Okada riding. Given that it may b impossible 2 determine who is commercial and who isn't, maybe they should just ban all motorcycles. The damn things r traffic hazards to all road users, and especially their passengers. Let us face it, Nigerian roads can't cope with them! But here is where the "enabling environment" ppl have a point. The govt has 2 start building good roads. This will tempt more ppl into the transport biz.........using buses and cars! I suspect this will happen even with the present bad roads. Okada needs 2 b banned! Obugi. Posted by Obugi| 26.03.2006 18:47

Onos  Villager

# 5 the motorcyclists even go as for as having two people on their okadas. You apparently haven't seen the worst of it, Anike. Better believe it when I say I've seen 3 passengers riding with the okada motorcyclist; that makes a total of 4 people on a motorbike. 2 people sitting behind the cyclist and 1 person sitting in front of him right on top of the fuel tank cover!! I have also seen a Peugeot 504 carrying thirteen people - yes, THIRTEEN (13) people and honestly, I am not lying. I'm talking people carrying other people on their laps, two people sitting on the drivers seat with one person's leg across the gear stick, people sitting inside the open trunk; it was unbelievably funny!! Only in Nigeria:D Posted by Onos| 26.03.2006 19:07

Anike  Bibi ire: Agbe Gboko Rosu

# 6 =Onos> I am not lying(hint! hint!!). I'm talking people carrying other people on their laps, two people sitting on the drivers seat with one person's leg across the gear stick, people sitting inside the open trunk; it was unbelievably funny!! na you biko! I'm sure someone was sitting on or in the hood of the Peugot sef. Posted by Anike| 26.03.2006 19:16

Onos  Villager

# 7 I know, I know..... I dont expect you to believe me. Regardless, its the truth - saw it in 1994 at the University of Port Harcourt ..... yes, transporting students after a late night show from Abuja park to Delta/Choba park. If someone told me the same thing, I would find it hard to believe too if I didn't see it myself. Posted by Onos| 26.03.2006 19:34

N.A.R.  Villager

# 8 1 person sitting in front of him right on top of the fuel tank cover!! I have also seen a Peugeot 504 carrying thirteen people - yes, THIRTEEN (13) people and honestly, I am not lying. I'm talking people carrying other people on their laps, two people sitting on the drivers seat with one person's leg across the gear stick, people sitting inside the open trunk; it was unbelievably funny!! HAAAA!!! Onos, no dis one nah lie jare! Mo gbe O! Some no enta boot? Actually, I don carry 8 people inside beetle from Yaba to Lekki and back to go and jollof! We go do laik I mile and then efribody go change position... Nah for Akure one time I nearly die! Station wagon....four in front, 1 between driver and drivers door, driver, two passangers for drivers right...five for middle...four for last last back...total: 13 people! Posted by N.A.R.| 27.03.2006 12:42

NaijaPRO  Villager

# 9 I was rolling with laughter when I read the one about 13 people inside pigo! Then N.A.R. come add hin own 8 people insai beetle. But dat one about you sitting b/w the driver and the driver's door na serious lie. How the driver take drive the muto? Posted by NaijaPRO| 13.08.2006 16:09