Demographics of Okada Drivers and Passengers
A study carried out in 1993 in Yola, a medium-sized city in the northeastern state of Adamawa, Nigeria, provides additional insight into the okada business. The study showed that about 88% of the okada riders were between 18 and 30 years old, and only 47% had received any type of formal education. The survey also elicited information from 106 motorcycle users. Customers generally: were male (65%); were young adults between 18 and 30 years of age (57%); had completed at least secondary school (83%); were unemployed but in the job market (59%); and had low to moderate incomes (45%). They valued okadas mainly because they were fast and readily available. Reasons that customers disliked them were that they considered them to be unsafe (this was stated by 67% of the respondents) and expensive (stated by 43% of the respondents). A survey of okada customers in Akure also revealed customer concerns over safety—61% felt operators drove too fast, and 31% said that they drove too recklessly.
Left with few transportation options, however, many continue to patronize okadas despite knowing well the significant risks involved.
Read more about this topic: Okada (commercial Motorcycle)