okada is a two tyre machine that carries people for a little fee in Nigeria, About many years ago, I even heard it become the name of an airline, that is, a company that has airplanes for carrying passengers. Today, ‘okada’ is widely known as two legged machines used to transport people. However, they is one surprising thing about ‘okada’ you need to know.
It is loved and feared at the same time by passengers, people love ‘okada’ because it sometimes transport people and goods, faster than cars and buses. Though, it was not made to run fast as cars, it moves faster in town and cities when there is traffic jam, unlike cars and buses, ‘okada’ does not waste passengers time by stopping every now and then to pick or drop passengers once you are on the bike they is no stopping till you reach your destination.
Also, ‘okada’ can get to places were cars and buses cannot reach, its two small tyres move easily on narrow or even bush parts, which are often difficult for the four large tyres of cars and buses. Yet, it is these very good advantage that bring serious disadvantage to ‘okada’ riders and passengers.
The high rate of accidents frightens many passengers. The riders are always on a haste. They want to make as many trip as possible within a short time. Most of them are not trained on how to ride an ‘okada’, they do not know the rules that guides people driving or riding on the roads.
The worst of it is that, the machines are successfully used to carry out crimes, on many occasions thieves sit on moving machine and snatch people’s bag, purses and other important items and speed off. They escape through the rough, roads between houses since they know it will be difficult to catch up with them.
Something really need to be done, to check this situation. Good road should be built to make it possible for cars and buses to get to every part of the city easily. There should also be a law that anybody riding motorcycle should be trained and giving a permission (licence). This will reduce the rate of accidents and make it possible for people to enjoy riding ‘okada’ anytime and day. In addition I say it should be banned from some major cities in Nigeria to stop most crimes.