Okada (commercial motorcyclists) Riders, Helmet and Law Enforcement

In most developing countries such as Nigeria, the Traffic Police are grossly under-resourced and under-trained to deal effectively with road safety violations. Effective traffic law enforcement can play an important role in reducing traffic crashes caused by unnecessary carelessness and recklessness of commercial motorcyclists popularly known in Nigeria as “OKADA RIDERS”.

We as an NGO will continually pursue our goal of spreading awareness on the grave consequences of improper or absolute lack of use of helmets and other protective gear. This, we have identified as a major contributor to the monumental deaths and fatalities recorded in cases relating to Okada accidents.

During one of our campaigns, we spotted this rider on an expressway with speed limit of 120km/h with his passenger who simply holds on to his helmet instead of wearing it. WHAT DO YOU THINK WOULD BE THEIR FATE, SHOULD THE UNEXPECTED HAPPEN?

Stanley C. Mbanaja Peters

Project Director (RSAAEI – Nigeria)