This thread is created to deliberate on why Okada(the commercial cycle) business must be put out of Nigerian cities. Please, let's do this in orderly fashion.

1. The riders are reckless.Okada is total nuisance on the road and very unruly.
2. They are used for armed robbery. (And for kidnapping)
3. They are easily prone to accidents. Go to Igbobi to see for yourselves the number of victims of Okada accidents.
4. It doesnt go well with the image of the country. It is a testament of the failed public mass transit in the country.
5. It is also a testament on how the Chinese and Indians have dumped their cheap and inferior products in Nigeria.
6. It almost impossible to enforce some sort of acceptable regulation, registration and monitoring and enforcement as an means of public transit.

Case made.

Though i don't think an outright and immedaite ban of Okada is the way to go about it. I think alternatives such as trams should be gradually introduced in phases before we do away with the beloved Okada!!

But, the bikers would say they have no other choice than to get themselves involved in use of Okada.

That is why i have proposed alternatives. Employ and train these same Okada riders to be bus drivers, LRT drivers, tram drivers, etc!!!
This way, you are not creating an employment vacumn

I was suggesting farming for them so that Nigeria will have enough to feed the population. It used to employ the largest part of the population.

it still does...

Meaning if the attention of Okada riders are diverted to farming, it can be banded from Nigerian cities,right?

because it looks like in pre-modern times.... it doesn´t suits the image of a rising and modern Nigeria.

because it looks like in pre-modern times.... it doesn´t suit the image of a rising and modern Nigeria.

They're one of the main causes of Lagos traffic.:ohno:

http://i43.tinypic.com/2d1ts7q.jpg

wow, that one main importer must have made a hell lot of money...

They're one of the main causes of Lagos traffic.:ohno:
On the contrary, what I see in that picture are cars gridlocked bumper-to-bumper with no where to go, and fortunately Okadas have afforded some a means (incidentally or otherwise) to get around such vehicular logjam.

Frankly, I had not intended to contribute to this thread at all, not least because it is not even a practical possibility at the present time, but also because there appears to be (most unfortunately) a hint of elitism underlying the topic and running through some of the discussion itself. It is all well and dandy to get on the Internet and theorize about Lagos' mid- to long-term traffic options, but the stark reality on the ground today is that literally millions of Lagosians are grateful and thankful for the Okada option.

krypt

For a Lagos to become a modern city the Okadas have to be faced out.

the phasing out of okada should start when the light rail is nearing completion

I saw on the news how disturbing these Okada riders are in the Northern part of the country. There was a short documentary on Kano Okada riders on the Satelite. It was a terrible one, indeed.

Tho, i never been to Nigeria or Lagos. Banning Okadas without any affordable altenatives is a discrimnation against the millions of Lagosians who have Okadas as the only means of Transportation.


I would suggest that they should be certain areas of Lagos where these Okadas shouldn't go or pay to go to. other wise banning is eilitist , if you don't have anything to replce them with.

I am also for the idea that the govt should provide alternate jobs for the Okada riders.

The Business is not restricted to Lagos alone.

I am also for the idea that the govt should provide alternate jobs for the Okada riders.

The Business is not restricted to Lagos alone.

That's what should be done. Altenative. But they can live them be private transportation for individuals. instead of business wise.

I think Mini Buses should replace them.


Mini busses for the lower income area and Busses for the middle and higher income areas. Since many people own cars in Lagos.


Very easy thing to do. But the governor or the Federal minister has to know this.

The major issue with the Okada is alternative employment opportunity. I once suggested farming. Nigeria used to provide enough for the citizens through farming yet the other way round is now the case because many people want to ride Okada in the city, I guess.

The major issue with the Okada is alternative employment opportunity. I once suggested farming. Nigeria used to provide enough for the citizens through farming yet the other way round is now the case because many people want to ride Okada in the city, I guess.

I see, Good thinking. Governors can do it and they have the money to do agroculture.

But most africans view agroculure as a poor man job , not just Nigeria:ohno:

One thing we don't know is that without agroculture, countries like Nigeria, DRC, Ghana, CI, Kenya, Tanzania, etc... can never be developed if there are no agroculture.


Malawi went from an importing antion to an exporting one in just three years, Thanks to their ambtious leader who initieted this developement. Remember Malawi is a poor Nation in the entire SADC Region.
DRC is taking simiar approch.


Nigerian politicians are too focused on Oil. Oil can be replaced , but agriculture is for as long Human being exist.

The condition of the bikes and bikers is appalling.

I see, Good thinking. Governors can do it and they have the money to do agroculture.

But most africans view agroculure as a poor man job , not just Nigeria:ohno:

One thing we don't know is that without agroculture, countries like Nigeria, DRC, Ghana, CI, Kenya, Tanzania, etc... can never be developed if there are no agroculture.


Malawi went from an importing antion to an exporting one in just three years, Thanks to their ambtious leader who initieted this developement. Remember Malawi is a poor Nation in the entire SADC Region.
DRC is taking simiar approch.


Nigerian politicians are too focused on Oil. Oil can be replaced , but agriculture is for as long Human being exist.
^^
Who the hell is this dude,where did he come from suddenly??????

^^
Who the hell is this dude,where did he come from suddenly??????

I'm from skyscrapercity Africa. I will just dispear if i'm annoying to the SSNigeria.

your not annoying anyone ... maybe usersky tho.

I see, Good thinking. Governors can do it and they have the money to do agroculture.

But most africans view agroculure as a poor man job , not just Nigeria:ohno:

One thing we don't know is that without agroculture, countries like Nigeria, DRC, Ghana, CI, Kenya, Tanzania, etc... can never be developed if there are no agroculture.


Malawi went from an importing antion to an exporting one in just three years, Thanks to their ambtious leader who initieted this developement. Remember Malawi is a poor Nation in the entire SADC Region.
DRC is taking simiar approch.


Nigerian politicians are too focused on Oil. Oil can be replaced , but agriculture is for as long Human being exist.



Nigeria doesn’t have an oil economy, oil accounts for only 18% of Nigeria’s GDP. It’s in exportation where oil takes it predominance, my point being, Nigerians stopped focussing solely on oil almost 10 years ago. The idea now is to increase production of other avenues to export level.

Nigeria doesn’t have an oil economy, oil accounts for only 18% of Nigeria’s GDP. It’s in exportation where oil takes it predominance, my point being, Nigerians stopped focussing solely on oil almost 10 years ago. The idea now is to increase production of other avenues to export level.

I have noticed that it has been shifting from oil and slowy and surely divertifying her economy , especially in Real estate , Banking , Finance and Communications.:cheers:
I want to see agressive agroculture revived. it's easy and cheaper to it.


Anyways, back to the topic.



Do you think these OKADAS should be banned? if yes, why?

I'm from skyscrapercity Africa. I will just dispear if i'm annoying to the SSNigeria.you are always welcome here,pal!

I have noticed that it has been shifting from oil and slowy and surely divertifying her economy , especially in Real estate , Banking , Finance and Communications.:cheers:
I want to see agressive agroculture revived. it's easy and cheaper to it.


Anyways, back to the topic.



Do you think these OKADAS should be banned? if yes, why?

Yes, because I don’t believe they serve any real purpose anymore.

Fashola has already phased them out with the recent commissioning of Cabs, Bus Network, Ferry Network and soon a Light Rail Network.

Fashola is a man with good foresight. I don't think commercial Bikers are very decent in the Nigeria cities or rather the society at-large.

Yes, because I don’t believe they serve any real purpose anymore.

Fashola has already phased them out with the recent commissioning of Cabs, Bus Network, Ferry Network and soon a Light Rail Network.

Can they keep it for their personal Transportation?



Me i think yes. Because it offers freedom , speed and riability.

Fashola is a man with good foresight. I don't think commercial Bikers are very decent in the Nigeria cities or rather the society at-large.

That's good that they are Mass transit planned.


But, Why should i take a Bus that will take a long time? When i can be faster and more reliable with my motorcyle?

That's good that they are Mass transit planned.


But, Why should i take a Bus that will take a long time? When i can be faster and more reliable with my motorcyle?They have proved to be dangerous and deadly. They run the business recklessly. I think there are more better ways to urgency in getting to one's destination than the use of Okada. When the rapid rail system finaly come to operation the road traffic will ease thereby speeding up the time to get to any destination of your choice. I am still hammering on the need to abolish the use in a big city like Lagos 'cause of the broad road with little traffic control and also for the bikers constituting nuisance to the livelihood of the city.

They have proved to be dangerous and deadly. They run the business recklessly. I think there are more better ways to urgency in getting to one's destination than the use of Okada. When the rapid rail system finaly come to operation the road traffic will ease thereby speeding up the time to get to any destination of your choice. I am still hammering on the need to abolish the use in a big city like Lagos 'cause of the broad road with little traffic control and also for the bikers constituting nuisance to the livelihood of the city.

Yes you're right, If they pose denger , no question about it, just ban the thing when the rapid rail is in service , These okadas got to be banned. I don't like big cities like that to have that many motocycles.
I know what Traffic Jam is like. I'm so impatient in the Traffic jam .

Good thing they are mass transit and plan to modernize the entire City's Transport system.

Do you know one thing I don't like about this thing? When peopls say it cannot be banned. There's been a time in Nigeria when they weren't in use. I think the govt can sustain the use of better alternatives to this form of public transportation.

Do you know one thing I don't like about this thing? When peopls say it cannot be banned. There's been a time in Nigeria when they weren't in use. I think the govt can sustain the use of better alternatives to this form of public transportation.

These things are all over. I think that the best altenative can be mini -buses. But these mini- Buses can only be used in certain part of the city, not in middle/upper class neighborhoods, Central Business districts.

Okada can still be in Use in small cities and towns.


In Mega-city Lagos, Abuja, and other cities of over one million people, they should be banned.

Do you know one thing I don't like about this thing? When peopls say it cannot be banned. There's been a time in Nigeria when they weren't in use. I think the govt can sustain the use of better alternatives to this form of public transportation.

Nigeria is one of the countries that changes the most.

Nigeria in 2009 is not the same Nigeria in 1995 or 1970 etc. Read Nigerian news today then go a month without reading, 100s of changes would have been made, there might be a new conflict, a new governor. Something is always happening and in this context what we have had is a mammoth exodus from the rural areas towards cities like Lagos, Ibadan, Kano, Kaduna, Port Harcourt etc. Lagos expands every year and not only that, the amount of people that are commuting from the fringes and into the city to work is increasing. There is increased transportation and movement but the infrastructure has not been meeting this demand. There is also unemployment and other grim factors. Lagos needs a more efficient road network, better public transportation that spans the entire region. Then we can be sure a great disadvantage will not result if the Okada is phased out.
People use the Okada, Nigerians don't like the Okada but they use it. Many depend on it. Lagos is not a large city it is a gigantic city, there is a lot of work to be done over the years.

That means the major issue is in the hand of the govt to provide more infrastructue to meet the people's need. On the othe hand the population is growing faster that the infrastructure and to reduce the population first by engaging them in farming will be the best possible way out. I think the finance is there to get this system transportation working properly.So, what is the govt waiting for to do so? Mass import the buses and cars and employed those who were once Okada riders to take up those job because all of them cannot go into farming. The transfer of skill from Okada to buses - cars is not that much a gap. Then I can buy the idea that Nigeria changes very fast as you said Tbite.

These things are all over. I think that the best altenative can be mini -buses. But these mini- Buses can only be used in certain part of the city, not in middle/upper class neighborhoods, Central Business districts.

Okada can still be in Use in small cities and towns.


In Mega-city Lagos, Abuja, and other cities of over one million people, they should be banned.Yes! Mini buses will do in certain parts as you said then cabs can run the rest parts. To my views or on my own opinion they aren't necessarily expedient in the smaller cities or town.It's not a means to and end, I think.

For a Lagos to become a modern city the Okadas have to be faced out.

Why should it be faced out. It's not everything foreign nations does, that we need to copy. Yes, okada maybe a pre-modern way of traveling but it's one of the booming business in Naija. Without it, people can barely go anywhere especially in Lagos and their ridiculous go slow (traffic).
If Okada is banned then more nigerians will be unemployed (Do you think we need more of that?). I like Okada, as dangerous and crazy as it is, it gets the job done. The only backtakes to okada is the accident and the crazy drivers and the fact they never listen to you. There is good and bad thing about Okada but it's a Nigerian thing. I think it should stay.

I do agree with people though. We need more farmers in Naija---it seems the north was suppose to be doing all the farming while the South does everything else but Northern are also moving away from farming and trying other form of survival. So i do agree, Nigerian government needs to focus on agriculture along with the other sections they are focused in

I don't support the banning of Okadas, without providing alternatives for the riders. I have spoken with some riders, who confessed that they don't like the job because of the risk. Government should provide jobs, and with time, the okada riders will abandon okada riding, since those jobs will provide more money and less risk.

I don't support the banning of Okadas, without providing alternatives for the riders. I have spoken with some riders, who confessed that they don't like the job because of the risk. Government should provide jobs, and with time, the okada riders will abandon okada riding, since those jobs will provide more money and less risk.I agree it's up to the govt. to provide other alternatives to Okada riders. This blaming and banning am insinuating here is largely on the govt. capacity to do something reasonable and forestall the nuissance it is constituting to the environment. My only blame is the increase in those employed by the commercial bikers business that is worrisome to me. It's like the jobless criminals are engaging it because it is a means to serve their interest better. I was told by somebody use it for criminal acts and that has become the ulterior motive behind the influx. I haven't comfirmed how truthful that is.

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The Lagos State Government in South-West Nigeria, has issued a fresh 21-day ultimatum to commercial motorcycle operators, also known as okada riders to stop plying the state’s highways or face the music.

Gov. Babatunde Raji Fashola.

With the new ultimatum, which takes effect from 1 September, okada riders are not expected to ply Third Mainland Bridge, Ikorodu Road, Victoria Island, the entire Lagos Island Business Districts, among others.

In order to ensure that no one raises eyebrow when the enforcement would start in full force, the state government has kicked off sensitisation campaign to warn okada riders to stay off the restricted highways.