Okadas

One of the most interesting and unusual things we have witnessed since moving to Lagos is the use of okadas. An okada is a motorcycle taxi used all around the islands and mainland of Lagos.

The locals stand on a street corner and hail an okada. But not the way one would hail a taxi in New York, instead locals make a noise that is a cross between a hiss and a kissing sound. This alerts the driver of the okada that his services are needed. The okada driver then swings over to the side of the road (even if he needs to make a u-turn) and negotiates a price for the distance that will be traveled. If the price is right, the passenger jumps on the back and away they go. No helmets, no protective jacket, and usually just flip-flops on their feet. Yikes!!!

To add to this, okada drivers make up their own rules of the road (although so does every other local driver!!!!!) There is no such thing as the “right side of the road”. Okadas will share lanes with cars and come up on either side of a car to pass. This is especially challenging when the driver of a car wants to make a turn. Not only does the driver have to look BOTH ways for oncoming traffic, but then has to check side view mirrors to see if an okada is coming up from behind.

Lagos has many traffic issues. This is a city of 15 million people and 1 working traffic light, stop signs have not been introduced to this area, and everyone drives on both sides of the road no matter what direction. Their solution to some traffic problems is to use traffic circles. These do not help. More often that not, they cause greater traffic and we get “go slows”. Lagos’ word for traffic jams.

Here is another amazing practice here in Lagos. While cars sit in a “go slow”, people walk up and down the street, between the cars, selling their wares. It could be bottles of water, mints, gum, plantain chips or our favorite: meat twinkies. (a little to scared to try that!!) If you are not hungry, they also have phone cards, belts, shoes, pirated DVD’s, and sunglasses for sale. Many of these things are carried on the heads of the sellers. (just amazing balance)

So; back to the okadas and the traffic. While all the cars are stopped in the “go slows” the okadas look at it like a slalom run. They move between the cars, not only sharing a lane but also squeezing between the front of one car and the back of another; veering around the merchants selling their wares. Many times I must close my eyes..it is all too close for my comfort.

I will leave you with one more visual to just add to the wonder which is Lagos. Because there are so many okadas, drivers are willing to take more than one passenger to get the fare. But I have also seen okadas with the most unusual kinds of passengers:

Imagine this:
the norm: driver, passenger

the unusual: driver, passenger, passenger
driver, passenger with ladder on his shoulders
driver, lawnmower
driver, lawnmower, passenger
child, driver, child, mother with child strapped to her back
child, driver, child, child, child

and the BEST:
driver, goat, passenger

Needless to say to say, we are not allowed to hop onto an okada.