The Significance of Commercial Bikes in Nigeria

While the Plateau State Governor, Rtd. Commodore Jonah David Jang addressed the press on Friday 26th September he did not hide his dislike of commercial motorcycle business variously known in Nigeria as going, okada or achaba. The speech of the Governor was suggestive of the fact that why his administration has not banned their activities up till now is due to the obvious fact that people seemed to consider them as one of the greatest things to have happened to the nation. It provided the people with a quick and convenient form of township transportation. According to Jang his dislike of the activities of the okada is as a result of their connection with criminal activities. The government of Da Jonah Jang by the way it is going will end up as one of the most accomplished administration in the history of Plateau State. It is needless to start giving a catalogue of the revolutionary programmes of the administration as they are there and speak for themselves. The area of Okada business is however, one that we wish the State Government should rather encourage as it has been done in some states where governments buy motorbikes and give them out in their poverty reduction programmes. The commercial motorbike business is an area that has pulled out a lot of people out of destitution and despondency more than it has ever been witnessed in this country in a long time. The business employs a large population of people. Some of them have sustained families, built houses and sent their children to decent schools. There are other occupations that have grown by virtue of the opportunity created by Okada business. Maintenance mechanics, engine oil retailers and additional jobs created by the increase in the number of filling stations that must serve the okadas. There are also importers and dealers of spare parts needed by these bikes. Okada business is a prospect that became real because people were in need of a means of transportation that conventional taxis could not provide. You could get them at your doorstep without having to trek to a motor park and it is fast and affordable. The fact that there has been an avalanche of operators has helped to stabilize the cost of intra-city transportations It is true that criminal elements have infiltrated the business using it carry out their activities. Criminals are however found in all spectrum of our lives be it in the classical taxi business or in other occupations. Thus a solution to general criminal activities lies in the fortification of the security machine of the state. Coincidentally the State Government is already doing that. The Federal Capital Territory is the only city in Nigeria where the okada business has been banned in view of the status of Abuja as the capital city of the federation. Such a sacrifice was necessary. The position of Abuja has however not changed the standing of Nigeria, which still remains a place where motorbikes are used for intra-city transportation. It is also important that we don't do things because others did it but because it suits our circumstance. In such doing people will be able to relate well with such policies that hence succeed with ease. General belief in Nigeria at present is that the okada business and the GSM are the greatest things to have happened to the nation in the last decade and half. We hope that the authorities will treat the issue with extreme caution.

By Yiro Abari