Global Transport Atlas

GTA-110 Nigeria, Commercial motorcycle operations in Lagos

Series 1 - Global Transport Notes

Nigeria, Lagos, motorcycles

Commercial motorcycle operations in Lagos Developing countries are noted for their use of Intermediate Means of Transport (IMT), for public transportation. Despite the comparatively low safety and efficiency of this type of transport, it enjoys huge patronage from commuters and the like in these countries. The increasing demand for travel in cities of developing countries, without a matching supply in public transport facilities such as comfortable, reliable and decent public bus system could provide, is probably one of the factors responsible for the prevalent of this means of transport. Just as rickshaws are popular among the urban poor in many Asian countries, commercial motorcycling is also a prominent means of transportation in cities, particularly among the urban poor in most SubSahara African countries.

This is a re-issue of a 2006 document.

Sources: Joshua Odeleye (NITT) Robert Bartlett (Ed.)

GTA-110

January 2013

Page 1

GTA-110 : Nigeria, Commercial motorcycle operations in Lagos

For instance, in Nigeria, diverse terms are attached to commercial motorcycle operations, such as Achaba in the northern and Okada in the southern parts of the country. One interesting feature of the operation of commercial motorcycling in Nigeria is that it is not properly regulated. In other words, it is not integrated at all into the existing urban transport system. Noticeably, there is no specialized road infrastructure provision which could enhance the safety of passengers and operatives. Also, the National Transport Policy does not formally recognize the existence of commercial motorcycling nor the complimentary role it plays as a feeder mode to the public transport system in the country. The authorities rather regard commercial motorcycling as an aberration, although it does offer a complimentary role to public transport in most cities. There is a need for a proper integration of commercial motorcycling into the broad spectrum of public transport systems in cities in Nigeria. The lack of proper integration of this sub-unit of urban transport systems in urban centers in Nigeria is deduced as one of the reasons responsible for the unsafe behaviour often exhibited on the roads by the operatives. Such behaviour includes the following among others: overloading overspeeding disregard for safety rules e.g. use of safety helmet use of alcohol and/ or drugs violation of traffic regulations e.g. illegal contraflow driving As a result, Okada operations are synonymous with high fatality rates. In most cities, hospitals, and particularly orthopaedic centres, normally have special wards for Okada accident victims. Notwithstanding the unsafe attributes of this means of transportation, it has been a source of informal employment, mostly for youths. Consequently, proper legislations that will check the excesses of the operatives need to be put in place in Nigeria, and with a view to enhancing safety of Okada operations maintaining this source of alternative employment maintaining this mode of alternative transport. GTA-110 January 2013

Global Transport Atlas Series 1 - Global Transport Notes

Other notes Okadas are not seen towing trailers (as for example the bicycle-trailer combinations often seen in Germany). Okadas can often be seen carrying goods but not any passengers; they are therefore a type of local goods vehicle. Okadas are generally considered a bad feature of road traffic from the road safety point of view, but many local people also see them as a necessary evil given the absence of a functional public transport system. Indeed public transport in Lagos has been described as chaotic. The demand is higher than supply both in terms of service and infrastructure respectively. For instance, 90% of urban trips in Lagos are by road, despite the availability of rail and waterway transport options; although these are not as evenly developed as the road system. The road-based public transport operations are erratic, uncoordinated, disorganized and unregulated. Hence, commuters are obliged to make do with unsafe means of mobility such as Okadas.

Page 2

GTA-110 : Nigeria, Commercial motorcycle operations in Lagos

On-street repair

Global Transport Atlas Series 1 - Global Transport Notes

On-Street Okada repair hot spot in Lagos . The photo shows an Okada technician using a pedestrian footpath as a repair workshop,. This adversely reduces the optimal use of the footpath for pedestrians.

Image 01

On-street parking One of the spatially located on-street illegal parking by Okada operatives in Lagos. The operatives use pedestrian walkways as an informal terminal. As a result, they force pedestrians to walk on the road. Thus, pedestrians have to share the road with vehicular traffic, increasing the risk to them of being knocked down by motorists.

Image 02

Rest period Okada operatives at mid-day off peak period relaxation. Insufficient rest means tired drivers and a greater road hazard. It could be argued that authorities should equally provide parking space for Okadas just as for private cars.

Image 03

Traffic hazard Okada sharing road with motor vehicles. This is one of the scenarios that lead to fatal accidents. The absence of traffic lanes for two-wheel vehicles in the city of Lagos as in other cities in Nigeria, aggravates the risk of Okada operatives and passengers been knocked down on the roads by motorists, a risk increased by Okada drivers tendency to weave in and out as they meander their way through traffic.

Image 04

GTA-110

January 2013

Page 3

GTA-110 : Nigeria, Commercial motorcycle operations in Lagos

Careless driving

Global Transport Atlas Series 1 - Global Transport Notes

Okada operatives in traffic, exhibiting a care-free attitude of body signal and dialoguing . This is an indication of weak enforcement and compliance of safety rules by government Road Safety Institutions and Okada riders respectively.

Image 05

Overloading Overloading. This sight is common at peak periods.

Image 06

All types of passenger There is no gender barrier in Okada patronage in most cities in Nigeria.

Image 07

Dangerous driving Apart from breaching regulations concerning overloading, this operative is in contra-flow, i.e. running against traffic, with impunity..

Image 08

GTA-110

January 2013

Page 4

GTA-110 : Nigeria, Commercial motorcycle operations in Lagos

Speeding

Global Transport Atlas Series 1 - Global Transport Notes

When the road has little other vehicular traffic, Okada operatives are more reckless in speed. They rarely observe the speed limit.

Image 09

Okadas and goods transport Okadas are used for the carriage of goods as well as persons. Despite often carrying large amounts of goods as well as persons, Okadas still disobey speed limits. Hence their accidents are quite often fatal.

Image 10

Okada station Okada illegal terminal at road intersection. Okada operatives usually informally designate a part of the road environment as a terminal. This is usually located close to busy land-uses such as markets, commercial and educational centers.

Image 11

Alternative public transport Okada traveling by the side of a public bus. Okadas are often a popular means of transport on congested routes because it can move in and out of the other traffic on the road. It thus can save clients travel time although putting them at a high risk of involvement in a traffic accident.

Image 12

GTA-110

January 2013

Page 5

GTA-110 : Nigeria, Commercial motorcycle operations in Lagos

About the contributors

Global Transport Atlas Series 1 - Global Transport Notes

About the organisations

Joshua Odeleye joshuaodeleye@yahoo.com When the original version of this document was published, Mr. Odeleye was Principal Staff Development Officer, School of Professional Studies, Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology, Zaria, Nigeria. He holds a Postgraduate Diploma and a Masters of Science in Transport Studies. Author of a number of technical articles and studies, he is currently an Assistant Director, Research and Consultancy in NITT and holds a PhD in Transport Geography from the University of Lagos, Nigeria.

NITT - The Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology http://www.nitt.org.ng/ The Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NITT) was established in the year 1986 by Decree No 6 of March 14 (now CAP 116 of the Federal Laws of Nigeria). The Institute was established as a Transport Management Development and Research Institute for Nigeria and the West African Sub-region. It is charged with the responsibility of providing professional training for middle cadre managers on the areas of transport and logistics and also conduct research and offer consultancy services to both public and private transport and logistics organizations.

Robert Bartlett roadnotes2@gmail.com is an experienced transportation and urban development studies engineer with over 25 years of professional experience. Current engineering work: includes technical research in highway design standards and applications in areas such as urban planning and highway engineering. Interests include applied GIS.

GTA-110

January 2013

Page 6

GTA-110 : Nigeria, Commercial motorcycle operations in Lagos

Cover notes and Disclaimer
This is a research document. The best efforts have been made to make sure the figures are correct. However no liability can be taken for any of the details, information or analysis in this document. The layout, look and feel of this document is copyright. The photos are generally copyright of Joshua Odeleye. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/3.0/

Global Transport Atlas Series 1 - Global Transport Notes

History and Change log

The original version of this document was published in October 2006. gta-110-b material reformatted, new version prepared December 2012.

GTA documents series Global Transport Atlas is a project with two aims. One is
to encourage people around the world to share examples of how they actually use transport in their daily lives. The other is to compare and improve the design of transport infrastructure. There are the following GTA document series: Series 1 - global transport notes A collection of papers on transport infrastructure and vehicles from various countries, prepared by various authors and contributors. Typical size 2 to 3 pages. Series 3 - discussion papers Papers with arguments and ideas on different aspects of modern transport and transport infrastructure. Series 4 - comparative geometrics Working papers which look at different aspects of highway infrastructure design and compare values from different countries. Series 7 - Dimensions of vehicles Transport infrastructure has to be defined with an idea of the size and types of vehicle which will use it. This series looks into the dimensions of different types of vehicle at different periods of time. Papers include technical discussion notes and example dimensions. Typical size 20 pages and more.

About the contributor

Robert Bartlett, Germany - is an experienced transportation and urban development studies engineer with over 25 years of professional experience. Current engineering work: includes technical research in highway design standards and applications in areas such as urban planning and highway engineering. Interests include applied GIS.

Contact
We welcome comments on this paper, and also on new developments in other countries in this field. Email: global.transport.atlas@gmail.com Web: http://globaltransportatlas.weebly.com/index.html

GTA-110

January 2013

Page 7