Other Watering Equipment

Okada refers to commercial motorcycles in Nigeria, where motorcycle riders carry passengers for hire. It is one of the chief modes of transport in Nigeria and, by far, the most common form of informal transport system in that country. more...

Home
Bath
Bedding
Furniture
Gardening & Plants
Bird & Wildlife Accessories
Fertilizer, Soil Amendments
Garden Décor
Garden Structures & Fencing
Hand Tools, Gear & Equipment
Aerators
Bonsai Tools
Composting
Gift Sets & Kits
Gloves, Protective Gear
Knee Pads, Seats, Cushions
Loppers, Pruners, Snips
Moisture, pH Meters
Other
Rakes, Shovels, Hoes
Seeders, Sprayers, Spreaders
Tool Carriers, Aprons, Belts
Watering Cans
Watering Equipment
Hoses, Hose Reels
Other Watering Equipment
Sprayers, Nozzles
Sprinklers
Timers, Controllers
Valves
Wheelbarrows, Carts, Wagons
Other Gardening & Plants
Outdoor Lighting
Pest & Weed Control
Planters, Pots, Window Boxes
Plants, Seeds, Bulbs
Publications
Seed Starting, Grow Lights
Home Decor
Lamps, Lighting, Ceiling...
Patio & Grilling
Pools & Spas
Rugs & Carpets

The popularity and widespread acceptance of okada has rapidly risen in recent years. Unfortunately, the rise of okada has been accompanied by increased levels of high-risk behavior and accidents on Nigerian roads; as a result they have come under heavy flak culminating in legislations restricting or prohibiting their operations in some Nigerian cities.

The Roles of Okada in the Nigerian Society

Okadas have adapted easily to the prevailing economic climate in a contemporary Nigerian society plagued by a dearth of taxi and bus services, hypercongestion, and the poor state of roads. Also, they have become a ubiquitous feature of Nigerian cities because of their low cost of purchase and fuel efficiency. However, they are usually more expensive for consumers than other forms of road transport.

The survival of okadas during fuel (gasoline) shortages in Nigeria is preserved by their superior fuel economy. Motorcycle fuel efficiency benefits from the relatively small mass of the vehicle, compared to its passengers and to other motor vehicles, and subsequent small engine displacement. During fuel scarcity, okadas quickly become the dominant form of transport. This has led some to allude that they may be responsible, at least in part, for fuel crises in Nigeria. Furthermore, a weak mass transit system has spawned the use of these alternate means of transport. Okadas are also able to navigate and travel roads where no car has gone before - especially true in villages, and urban slums. Okada riding has been described as “a unique experience� by regular passengers and tourists. In the major cities e.g. Lagos, where traffic congestions (and inevitably, delays) represent an ever-present threat to businessmen, government workers, students of various schools and colleges, okadas come into play, with their smaller design they are able to weave through traffic, and literally rescue countless helpless customers from the organized chaos on Nigerian roads.

The Okada Driver and Okada Passenger Profiles

A study carried out in 1993 in Yola, a medium-sized city in the north-eastern state of Adamawa, Nigeria, provides additional insight into the nature of the okada business. The study showed that about 88% of the okada riders were aged between 18 and 30 years and only 47% of them received formal education of any form. The 1993 survey also elicited information from 106 motorcycle users. Customers were generally: male (65%); young adults between 18 and 30 years of age (57%); in possession of a diploma from a secondary school or higher (83%); unemployed but in the job market (59%); and of low-to-moderate income levels (45%). Okadas were valued mainly because they were fast and readily available. Customers disliked them because they were considered to be unsafe (stated by two-thirds of respondents) and expensive (stated by 43% of respondents). The survey of okada customers in Akure also revealed customer concerns over safety – 61% felt operators drove too fast and 31% felt they drove too recklessly. Left with few mobility options, many patronize okadas well knowing the significant risks involved.

Read more at Wikipedia.org