Lagos State, especially the metropolitan areas, is open to all sorts of transporters including the commercial motorcyclists, popularly known as okada riders. In Lagos, like several other busy cities in Nigeria where traffic – human or vehicular – is high some people see motorcycles as a meaningful solution.
This overwhelming patronage has gingered more and more people to take to Okada riding as a profession in view of the economic advantages that come with it for the individuals and their families.
The influx of people into the business has also lowered the standard of practice, thereby resulting in several road accidents involving motorcycle riders and other vehicles.
Former Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola, placed a ban on okada riders on major roads during his tenure when it became evident that they had become a menace to the society. Some people condemned the ban saying it was wrong for government to take the action without providing another source of income for them. But others were happy that the action would instill discipline in the way and manner the riders operated in order to save lives.
As soon as Governor Akinwunmi Ambode came on board, the commercial motorcyclists came back with full force. This time, they threw caution to the wind and began plying routes they ought not to ply. The recklessness got out of hand so much that the Lagos State government under the current dispensation had to re-invent new ways to checkmate the riders.
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With the obvious lack of expertise on the part of the motorcyclists and the increasing rate of accidents which has sent many people to orthopedic hospitals, many have wondered if there are any criteria set, either by the government or the associations of the riders to determine who qualifies or does not, to practise.
Investigation by The Next Edition reveals that the criteria for becoming a rider vary from one environment to the other. There are different rules for various environments.
According to the Chairman of Okada Riders at Fadeyi area of Ikeja, Lagos, Yusuf Ibrahim, the road to becoming an Okada rider is very simple. According to him, all an individual needs to do is register with the association in any environment and start work.
“If you want to be a commercial motorbike rider, you have to register” he said. “You register by buying the uniform at N1, 500, get a sticker and also identification card. Apart from Saturdays and Sundays, you pay N150 for ticket.”
When asked if they go through proper tests to know if they can ride. He said: “We do test them. We ask them to ride to determine whether they can truly ride. We know those who can ride well and those who cannot. We don’t just register anyone.”
Some commercial riders however are not registered. They operate illegally. According to Ibrahim, the unregistered commercial motorcyclists are the ones without uniforms.
In view of the nefarious activities of criminals under the guise of being commercial motorcyclists, the Nigeria Police Force in Lagos State has taken some measures to ensure sanity.
In November 2017, the Lagos Commissioner of Police, Mr. Imohimi Edgal, gave commercial motorcyclists in the state three days to register with any of the two relevant associations or risk arrest. Till date only a few of them have complied.
Edgal gave the directive in November 24, during an emergency meeting with the leadership of the commercial motorcycle operators as part of measures to ensure that they are well coordinated to promote security.
According to him, the two recognised associations are Motorcycle Operators Association of Lagos State (MOALS) and National Motorcycle Owners and Riders Association (NNAMORAL). The police boss said that the registration was necessary for proper identification, warning that commercial motorcycle operators not registered with either of the unions would be arrested for illegal operation.
“If you want to be a commercial motorcycle operator in Lagos State, you must belong to either NNAMORAL or MOALS,” he said.
Continuing, he said, “All commercial motorcycle operators are given three days to get registered; anyone found wanting will be arrested.
“The operators must wear their reflective vests designed by the unions with their names and numbers.
“Members of the public are advised not to patronise any okada rider (commercial motorcyclist) without the vest as his or her safety cannot be guaranteed,’’ he said.
He said that the police would not relent in enforcing Lagos traffic laws.
“There are roads okada riders must not ply. They must carry one person at a time.
“The vests are numbered. There are emergency numbers to call in case a passenger has a problem with any commercial motorcycle operator.
“We all want Lagos to be a mega city but this cannot be achieved when we have commercial motorcycle operators without helmets, taking one way and BRT lanes. In enforcing traffic laws, community policing is the way out as I don’t intend to enforce these laws without you.’’
Edgal directed that the two motorcycle transport unions should have a database for commercial motorcycle operators in the state.
He said that high rate of accidents involving commercial motorcyclists made it mandatory for their operations to be monitored strictly.
“When you go to the National Orthopedic Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos, and see cases, you will see that there is the need to monitor their (commercial motorcyclists‘) operations,” he said.
Speaking to The Next Edition, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, Adamu Mohammed, said “If you patronise the bike men without uniform, you are taking a big risk. You are on your own. These are the people responsible for the robberies by bike men you hear about. Without the uniform, it will be difficult to track them.
“We are advising Lagos residents to stop patronising them. If people stop patronising them, they will be forced to do the right thing by registering.”
However, despite the measures put in place, illegal okada riders still abound.
In the course of investigation, The Next Edition correspondent found some of the illegal operators at Ikeja Bus Stop.
From the countenance, they were apparently afraid they might be caught by policemen or officials of the task force on illegal commercial riders.
One of the illegal commercial riders who spoke with our correspondent said despite their status, they obtained tickets to operate.
The illegal commercial operator who identified himself as Musa said: “We pay between N200 and N300 for ticket every day. It is only on Sunday that we do not pay.”
His position contradicts that of Ibrahim, who spoke earlier, on the amount collected for tickets.
Musa told The Next Edition that there is a huge contradiction about the system they operate.
They say: “We are not registered, but the touts still sell tickets to us.”
Musa further stated that “Men of the task force usually arrest some of us. We bail our bikes with N10, 000. That is if we are lucky. If we are not lucky, the bike is seized forever.”