Daily Independent (Lagos)
Victor Ebimomi Stella Odueme, Wale Igbintade and Abdulgafar Oladimeji
2 January 2009
In Lagos, hundreds of commercial motorcycles have been seized from their owners who failed to put on helmets as directed by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), in a statewide operation carried out with policemen on New Year day.
A protest about it in Kano led to a fracas.
FRSC Lagos Sector Commander, Kayode Olagunju, said the operators were released while their bikes, also known as Okadas, are in the custody of both the FRSC and the police, until they pay a fine of N2,000 or serve six months in prison.
He promised that the clamp down would be sustained until full compliance by the riders, because of the rising cases of accidents and casualties involving motorcycles.
Lagos recorded 56,419 casualties in road accidents between 1998 and June 2008, with 10,471 motorcycle crashes.
Motorcycle taxi is a major means of transport in the metropolis because of the huge population and traffic jam on the roads.
Some passengers oppose the wearing of helmets, claiming that it could lead to the contracting of diseases and also make them vulnerable to ritualists.
Women also say that wearing of helmet would alter their hairdo.
Okada operators lament the price of a helmet, which now sells for between N3,000 and N4,000 instead of the old price of N1,500.
In Kano where they are called "Achaba" the motorcyclists threatened the peace on the first day of January as they protested the use of crash helmet, which they said cost N3,500.
Some cited religious reasons for their refusal to put on helmets, insisting that it is a taboo to alternate their use between men and women.
In that case, they argued, they have to buy three helmets: one for the operator, one for females and another for males.
They also alleged that the government has a hidden agenda to drive them out of business since most passengers will not share a helmet with those who have head bumps and ring worms which are contagious.
FRSC Kano Commander, Yusuf Garba, confirmed the arrest of some protesters who inflicted injury on his officials.
State chapter Chairman of the Amalgamated Commercial Motorcycle Riders Association of Nigeria, Mansur Tanimu, condemned the action of his members.
He said there are plans to provide them with helmets at a subsidised rate of N2,000 per unit, paid in installments.
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