Commercial motorcyclists, otherwise called okada riders seem poised for a showdown with the Federal Road Safety Commission on its order for the wearing of helmets.
Reports from some states since the implementation of the order became effective on January 1, showed partial compliance by motorcyclists.
In Lagos, many commercial cyclists went about their trade without helmets, and carried passengers without the helmets.
In Akwa Ibom State, scores of commercial motorcyclists confronted the police on Friday over the FRSC directive on the use of crash helmets.
The motorcyclists had stormed the Atiku Abubakar Avenue, where some mobile policemen mounted a roadblock for a routine stop and search exercise.
More than 98 per cent of motorcycle operators in the state had continually defied the FRSC directive on the need to wear crash helmets from January 1.
The motorcyclists, who were about 50 in number, dismantled the roadblock to the chagrin of four policemen, who only stood to watch them without any recourse to fight back.
The leader of the mobile policemen on duty immediately called to mobilise more of his men to the point in order to beat the aggressive motorcyclists.
However, the okada riders took to their heels the moment they saw a pick-up van loaded with mobile and regular policemen.
About 12 motorcycles were immediately seized by the policemen, who vowed to enforce the new law on the use crash helmets.
Some of the motorcyclists arrested were later released after a top official of the Amalgamated Professional Commercial Motorcyclists Association in the state pleaded on their behalf.
On Ikot Ekpene Road, SUNDAY PUNCH observed a serious disagreement among commercial motorcyclists on Saturday.
A few of those who complied with the law on the use of helmets were being attacked by those that defied the FRSC order.
The errant okada riders were seen smashing new crash helmets belonging to their colleagues on the ground, apparently forcing them to ignore the directive.
The State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Gab Ngban, condemned the attitude of commercial motorcyclists in the state.
Ngban said the police would not allow them to take the law into their hand, adding that the command would come out with a definite position on the matter.
“Akwa Ibom is not a lawless state and that is why we will not allow those who want to be lawless to have their way,” Ngban stated.
Also, a top FRSC official pointed out that the commission would allow the okada riders some time to purchase the crash helmets.
According to the official, who preferred anonymity, since the helmets are not within reach, it was necessary to give the motorcyclists some time to purchase the items.
He said the FRSC in the state would soon begin to clamp down on erring okada riders.
Meanwhile, following the enforcement of the directive, the Chairman of Awgu Local Government Area, Chief Uche Anioke on Friday in Enugu donated 1,000 units of crash helmets to motorcyclists.
Presenting the items, the council boss implored the recipients to be safety-conscious at all times and to make good use of the crash helmets.
The facility, he explained, would help save the lives of many motorcycle users. He decried the frequent accidents that often involve okada riders and attributed it to recklessness and impatience.
Anioke observed that the N3,000 fine imposed by the FRSC for defaulters was just to ensure compliance, noting that his decision to distribute the helmets was to save lives.
He advised okada operators in the council to form an association that would enable them to secure loans from the micro-finance bank.
”In the last one year, my administration has been working to bring development to Awgu so as to discourage rural-urban migration.
“For instance, we have secured the cooperation of some investors who would soon establish a micro-finance bank here, which would help small and medium business owners to get loans to finance their businesses.
“So, you have no need to leave the council for the urban areas because we are working to satisfy the yearnings of our people,” Anioke explained.
Responding on behalf of other beneficiaries, Daniel Ajah thanked the council chairman for the gesture, noting that the helmets would reduce the high rate of fatalities among the motorcycle operators.
He called on his colleagues to observe road safety rules, just as he enjoined other “council chairmen to emulate Anioke by creating a conducive environment for motorcycle operators to contribute to national building.”
In another development, the National Co-ordinator of Peoples Problems and Solution, Dr. Wale Omole, has challenged the government to provide effective transport system, as well as to legislate against the use of okada for commercial purposes in the country.
The use of okada, he said, was an index of commerical transport failure.
“In the first place, should okada be used in Nigeria as a means of commerical transportation in this century? Is this not further exposing our failure to the world that out transport system has collapsed? Are we not going to resume the use of horses and donkeys for commercial purposes sooner or later in the cities? Commercial okada riding is an index of commercial transport failure,” he stated.