|
Many residents of the
Federal Capital Territory receive the news of the ban on commercial
motorcyclists [otherwise known as Okada] in the city with
mixed feelings. While some saw the move as a welcome development, others
saw it as additional punishment on the hapless masses from the ruling
class. Initially, most people were skeptical about the ability of the
authority to have their way as most of the cyclists are regarded as
urchins and vagabonds who the authority had found difficult to control
let alone sent packing from the city. But events in the last few days
have shown that the government can make almost anything possible.
Okada
have almost become indispensable in most of our cities and villages. The
rise in the use of Okada as a means of transportation is
necessitated by the failure of the system. As a matter of fact, previous
governments and in deed the present one have never had any serious
transport plans for the masses.
The road network is
grossly inadequate and even the tarred roads are in shambles due to lack
of maintenance. Secondly, there are no organized forms of transport
system as obtainable in major cities of the world. Thirdly, the cost of
transportation is unusually high considering our poor income earnings.
Fourthly, the cost of acquiring any form of transport system is far
above the means of the average citizen, and the perennial scarcity of
petroleum products does not help matters.
The above factors and
others not mentioned therein brought untoward hardships on the populace
in the course of moving from one place to another. At this juncture,
Okada came up as a means of transportation, and its usefulness can
not be emphasized. First, it is cheaper to acquire especially with the
introduction of sub-standard Chinese motorcycles [Jincheng, Nanfang]
into our market. While a standard Yamaha, Suzuki or Honda motorcycle
costs between N120,000 to N200,000, Jincheng sells for about N60,000.
Even some fairly used lady motorcycles like jaguar popularly used
in Lagos sell for about N90,000.
In the same vein,
Okada riders charge far less than what taxi drivers charge. For
instance, a ride from Maitama District to Jabi District both in Abuja
will normally cost around N100 but taxi will not charge less than N300
for the same trip.
Okada
is also the fastest means of moving around within a relatively short
distance. While taxis have holdups and traffic jams to contend with,
Okada always maneuver their ways to move ahead. Therefore, for
someone who is in a rush to catch up with an appointment, Okada
will be the best bet.
More so, getting to
the nook and crannies of the city is not very attractive to taxi drivers
for obvious reasons but Okada derive pleasure in doing the bit.
It may not be far from the truth if one concludes that Okada's
popularity arises from the fact that it is a convenient mode of
transportation.
However, Okada
is not without its disadvantages. First, the risk associated with this
mode of transportation is unabated. Most of the riders do not adhere to
traffic rules thereby exposing them and other road users to fatal
accidents. The most worrisome part of this is that most Okada
riders have little or no education at all and hence do not even know
what road traffic rules mean let alone obey them.
Okada
also
constitute major environmental hazards like noise and environmental
pollutions as a result of the toxic smoke they emit. Some of the riders
blast their horns when there is absolutely no need for doing so. It is
alleged that some Okada riders intentionally change their horns
for louder ones in order to harass other road users.
Okada
have also become a major tool for committing heinous crimes like
robbery. It is about the easiest means of escape when a crime has been
committed.
The worrisome aspect
of the Okada ban saga is the hardship that the ban has brought on
the residents. Within the few days of the ban, people have been telling
their woes. Taxi cabs within the city are grossly inadequate to cater
for the demand and they have subsequently increased their fares
astronomically.
The logical step for
the government would have been to put in place a stiff regulation for
the Okada operators so as to contain their menace until such a
time when the city is ripe enough to do without them. In the same vein,
a gradual phasing out of Okada from the city is more appealing to
an outright ban.
Be the case as it may,
the ban has come to stay and so be it. What the public requires of the
government is to make more tricycles [Keke Napep] and buses available to
alleviate their sufferings.
Nuhu Shuaib
Zone 2, Wuse – Abuja
Federal Capital
Territory
|