Nigeria: The Ban on Commercial Motorcyclists

By Nwaorgu Faustinus

Over the years, man has devised various means to provide for himself and his immediate family. Such means include, hunting of game, farming, rearing of animals and so on. In our contemporary world, man has also evolved such ways as, buying and selling, securing job in private and public establishments, making of shoes, handbags, balls, cloths as well as engaging in small businesses like hairdressing and the use of motor cycle to convey passengers to their destinations with a view to eke a living. The random ban on motor cycle operation as a medium of commercial transportation in some states is the crux of this piece.


One of the policies of some state government that is generating enormous public concern and discourse in so many quarters is the ban on commercial motorcyclists, popularly known as Okada which had already taken effect in some states. Okada as it is called finds its way as a means of commercial transportation in Nigeria in the late 80’s to early 90’s. But before this period, it was used mainly as a private means of mobility to fetch water, firewood, palm fruits as well as to run other domestic errands and never a medium for commercial transportation as it is the case now.


The reasons adduced to have led to the proliferation of motor cycle operators or rather commercial motorcyclists in some states are poverty and the ever alarming rate of unemployment in the country. A situation where one cannot get job in private or public organization but has some money to purchase motorcycle is what is driving most unemployed graduates and others into this business.


In a number State capitals is banned or about to be banned, there are well over half fifteen thousand of motor cycle operators. Imagine the number of people, family men and youths who depend on this medium of transport to feed themselves and their families that the state government will render unemployed and take away food from their mouth. This is quite sad and unfortunate. One may be tempted to ask is this the way the state government wants to solve youth’s restiveness, crime and unemployment in the land? Your answer is as good as mine.


The argument put forward for the ban has been that commercial motor cycle operators have sent so many people to their early grave as well as themselves through motor accident. Some victims of motor cyclist are deformed. Furthermore, it has been posited that some of the criminal activities perpetrated in some States are usually executed with motorcycles. As valid as these arguments are, it should be noted too, that drivers of both private and commercial vehicles do have accident with their cars, rob and contribute to the vehicular or rather traffic jam being experienced on daily basis on our roads.

Some state governments where this ban is yet to take effect, for example Uyo, should temper justice with mercy, bearing in mind the plight which motorcyclists and general public who patronize them will be subjected to as a result of the ban.


Commercial motorcycle as one of the easiest but not safest mode of transport that avails the public the opportunity to overcome the ever increasing and constant traffic jam experienced by road users. It is also cheaper to board in terms of fare and carries its passenger to streets and areas which the operators of taxi and tricycles (KEKE NAPEP) cannot ply. I do not think the ban of motorcyclists will be the best thing that will happen to the general public and civil servants who often depend on the services of motorcyclists to get to their offices on time during holdup or traffic jam.


The state governments should note that as good as their plans are to ban commercial motorcyclists and provide alternative means of transportation and reabsorb them, it cannot provide taxi or tricycle to each and every motorcyclist. It should also know that it is going to make a great number of motorcycle operators’ jobless, thereby increasing the rate of unemployment which will in the short or long run give birth to youth’s restiveness and crime.


Finally, every state government where this ban is to be implemented or being considered, should therefore be considerate, sensitive and reconsider its stance on the ban of commercial motorcyclist in the state, given the untold hardship commercial motorcyclists will face.

Nwaorgu Faustinus, writes from Igboetche, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Email: fausteness@yahoo.com. Tel: 08035601312