The Recent Ban Of Motorcyclists In Abuja
Its no longer news in Nigeria that Motorcyclists in Abuja popularly known as Okada men has been banned and the FCT Minister Malaam Nasir El-rufai has provided some buses to replace these okada men.
Recently there has been some protests and people are not certain if these okada men are going to be brought back into the city.
Though they have been a niusance, they have also helped the poor or should I say the less privileged. They have even helped the rich.
There are some areas that ordinary cars and buses cannot penetrate in Abuja, and its these okada men that take people in no matter how far it is, the ban has made me wonder how some people will cope in such situation, it has made me wonder how those who have no money to buy buses or taxi to use as a source of living are going to cope.
If only an alternative will be provided for these men, then we will have no reason to complain……
October 6, 2006 at 9:59 pm
That is the problem with our country.
“If only an alternative will be provided for these men, then we will have no reason to complain…… ”
I can bet my very last kobo ( ok penny) that no alternative has ben provided to fill the void created by banning the okada’s. Ok u say buses has been provided but have they expanded the route these buses will ply to cushion the effect of not having okada’s?
More Keke Marwa’s could be provided to cushion this or have they been banned also?
October 7, 2006 at 2:43 pm
There was a ban of motorcyclists in the four major Niger-Delta states (Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo) shortly before I left Nigeria. I don’t know if it’s stil on but the way it worked, no motorcycle was allowed on the road after 7:00pm or the rider was fined.
Of course, it meant everyone had to scramble from work before 7 so they could get one to take them home. For the poor people who slave nbight and day trying to make some meagre change from okada, I wonder what’ll happen. Is the FCT minister trying to increase armed robbery in Abuja?
October 8, 2006 at 11:14 pm
Okada as you rightly observed is a public niusance, and I support the ban.
When there was no Okada, we even achieved more.
God bless.
October 11, 2006 at 5:24 am
This is interesting to me.
In Canada we have strict laws about motoring and safety.
Our motorcyclists have two sets of driving tests they must pass to get a licence to ride them.
If we had motorcyclists to take individuals around the insurance(which is required by law here) would be horrendous.
As it is, no one has even tried to do this here. For we only have one good season for motorcycling. Thus it would not be adventageous to anyone.
I find it interesting that is type of riding is a cheaper alternative, and one which can take people to places hard to travel to.
October 11, 2006 at 2:20 pm
The aftermath is not easy at all, we that resident in Abuja are already feeling the pain. See http://twinstaiye.blogspot.com/2006/10/aftermath-of-okada-ban-in-abuja.html