THE MENACE OF
Abuja is the capital city of Nigeria. It's located in the North - Central region of the country. It has a wide networks of roads.
The commercial motorcycle riders popularly known as 'Okada boys' are everywhere in Nigeria. In major cities, they're banned from operating on the highways. In Abuja for instance, they're permitted to operate in Askoro, Garki, Maitama and Wuse . Places like Gwarimpa and other estates don't allow them either.
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[https://www.google.com.ng/search?client=tablet-android-samsung&sa=X&q=Federal+Capital+Territory&stick=H4sIAAAAAAAAAONgFuLQz9U3SMurKFfiBLFMissqM7T4nPNzc_PzgjNTUssTK4sBijUlAicAAAA&npsic=0&ved=0ahUKEwju2tG01KrcAhXLA8AKHU6fA3YQ-BYIKA&biw=600&bih=1024#imgrc=AJZtEgtxmj79yM:]
So why is Abuja so significant in this post? Because IT'S ONLY IN ABUJA THAT A DRIVER WILL USE BOTH HIS/HER HAND AND THE VEHICLE'S TRAFFICATOR to indicate the direction he/she is turning. Really? Yes. These boys must definitely see your hand before they see your lights. How's that possible? Because they don't learn anything about traffic signs or use of roads. It's like this: a man gets to Abuja by his security guard relative or friend. They discuss and opt for riding a motorcycle as his vocation. He begins to make money. He remembers his friend /brother who's jobless and invites him over in a conversation that goes somewhat like this:
Adam: Come to Abuja.There's money here.
Isac : What 're you doing?
Adam: Riding okada. You can make enough money in a day.
Isac: But I don't know how to ride a bike.
Adam: No problems, I'll teach you.
Isac: Ok, thanks but I don't have money to travel.
Adam : Borrow and come. We'll pay back immediately.
Isac : Then, I'll come before the week is over.
Isac arrives and Adam spares ten minutes to show him some parts and their functionality. Isac tests on the field for a couple of minutes and is ready for business. Nobody has mentioned use of roads and traffic signs and so, he knows nothing.
In a couple of hours, Isac has hit the road with his 'unfortunate' passenger. He crosses the road fron left to right or right to left at will as if he's the only road user. Since he's not educated on light indicators, he can't interpret them. So he ends up causing accidents, traffic jam of vehicles and injury or death to his passenger .
I'm not saying that people like these aren't all over Nigeria but their menace in Abuja is 90% caused by not seeing the vehicle's trafficators unless they see the driver's hand first .
[https://www.google.com.ng/search?client=tablet-android-samsung&q=Abuja+City&spell=1&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiilqCT06rcAhWGIcAKHXq8CmEQBQgeKAA#imgrc=Ua11ATww0pTLCM:]
To reduce this menace, I 'll propose that leaders of the Association of Okada Riders make it mandatory for all members to undergo training on the use of roads and identifying /obeying traffic rules. And that means there should be training venues, facilities and human resources, especially officers of the Federal Road Safety Commission.