Hussein Yahaya
6 January 2009
Commercial motorcyclists, popularly called okada riders, have continued to operate at Bwari without the use of crash helmets as directed by the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC).
Our reporters, who went around Bwari to monitor the level of compliance by motorcyclists, observed that most cyclists did not wear helmets.
A cyclist said he has purchased the crash helmets but is waiting for FRSC official to enforce it in the community before he can start using them.
"Most of us have the helmets and have not used them because nobody is arresting anyone for not wearing the helmet," he said.
Another cyclist, Joseph Michael, said it is bad for cyclists to refuse to wear the helmets until they are forced.
The situation at Bwari appears almost similar in some areas of Nyanya, as some commercial motorcyclists that operate within Mopol Junction to Nyanya Phase 4 and those that ply Nyanya Market axis to Karu village have continued to operate without the use of helmets.
Our reporters however observed that most riders in other parts of Nyanya, Dutsen-Alhaji are adhering to the helmet usage.
At Gwagwalada and Abaji, cyclists wearing painted calabashes were seen plying through streets.
In an interview with our reporters, the Kubwa Unit Commander of the FRSC, Tanimu Ali Sule, promised visit Bwari to enforce the safety helmet law on motorcyclists and their passengers.
"We are taking the enforcement process gradually and before the end of this week we are going to storm Bwari to arrest recalcitrant cyclists," he disclosed.
The unit commander informed cyclists not to wait for the FRSC before they start using helmets as Bwari Council has enough for sale, adding that they will be fined when caught.
He said the FRSC has already written a letter to the Bwari divisional police officer, requesting for his assistance, in releasing policemen to help in enforcing the directive.
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