Africa Daily - Can Lagos manage without its commercial motorbikes?
Download Can Lagos manage without its commercial motorbikes?
With a population of at least 20 million residents and with close to no proper city planning, Lagos is often plagued with intense traffic jams and locals often turn to commercial motorbike taxis, known locally as okada, or its 2-wheeled equivalent, keke, to get around quickly.
But now due to what Lagos authorities are calling safety concerns, Nigeria’s largest city has yet again banned the okadas and kekes.
This latest move to ban okadas came after the lynching of a man by suspected riders in the upmarket Lekki neighbourhood. The incident took place last month and sparked outrage.
While the ban has been welcomed by some who agree with the Lagos authorities that the riders drive dangerously, others say okadas offer faster and often cheaper means of transportation around the city.
So in a heavily populated city like this, will Lagos manage without its okadas?
Alan Kasujja speaks to the BBC’s Olivia Ndubuisi who lives and works in Lagos about what’s it like living in the city and how this ban will affect locals.
Published on Wednesday, 8th June 2022.
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