In the Lagos metropolis, they have become ubiquitous, the green colour on the helmet the rider dons and on the motorcycle itself standing them out in traffic. They are the two-wheeler version of Uber and Taxify, the popular online car transportation solution to commuting in cities.
They are commercial motorcycle riders, popularly called okada, that you can have at your service within minutes anywhere in the Lagos metropolis by simply working an app on your phone, the same way Uber and Taxify services are beckoned. The creativity is, however, a step ahead of automobile taxi services as residents of the metropolis seek ways to beat the excruciating traffic problems to arrive at their destinations in good time. The okada, weaving in and out of long queues of traffic hold-up, will, you can be sure, arrive at your destination many minutes faster than any car taxi will.
In the metropolis, the traffic complexion has always been known for decades to be pale, with commuters stuck in traffic for several hours.
The situation seems worse these days as the Lagos State governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, has initiated many road construction projects that are being done simultaneously. Read more