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The Persistent Menace Of Okada Resurgence, Reckless Truck Driving And Traffic Violations By Delivery Riders In Abuja: Time For Strict Enforcement
The Persistent Menace Of Okada Resurgence, Reckless Truck Driving And Traffic Violations By Delivery Riders In Abuja: Time For Strict Enforcement
Muhammad Suwaid
It was already dark when I encountered a tipper truck carrying a heap of laterite sand on an Abuja road. In flagrant disregard for traffic regulations, the driver drove against the designated direction of traffic, blaring his horn aggressively, as though other motorists travelling in the lawful direction were the ones obstructing him.
It was more than an irritating traffic encounter. It was a disturbing illustration of the disregard for road safety that can turn an ordinary journey into a potentially dangerous experience.
The incident raises a fundamental question: how can a capital city aspire to orderly urban mobility when some road users behave as though traffic regulations are optional and the right of way belongs to whoever is bold enough to seize it?
This concern goes beyond one truck driver. The resurgence of commercial motorcycles, popularly known as Okada, in restricted areas, alongside dangerous driving practices by some truck operators and the growing disregard for traffic signals by delivery motorbike riders, calls for renewed attention from the relevant authorities in the Federal Capital Territory.
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Abuja deserves safer roads, responsible road users and an enforcement system that works consistently, not merely when public outrage reaches its peak.
The Danger of Reckless Truck Driving
Driving against the flow of traffic is among the most dangerous violations a motorist can commit. When a heavy-duty vehicle is involved, the consequences can be particularly severe.
A tipper truck carrying a substantial load of laterite or other construction materials requires careful handling, adequate stopping distance and responsible manoeuvring. Its size and weight mean that a collision can have devastating consequences for occupants of smaller vehicles, motorcyclists and pedestrians.
Yet some drivers engage in dangerous manoeuvres, enter roads from prohibited directions or use their horns aggressively to pressure other motorists into yielding.
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A horn is intended to warn other road users of danger, not to confer the right of way on the person sounding it.
The law does not recognise the loudest horn as a substitute for lawful driving. Neither the size of a vehicle nor the urgency of its driver’s journey grants permission to endanger others.
However, fairness demands that we make an important distinction: this is not an indictment of all truck drivers. Many perform demanding jobs under difficult conditions and conduct themselves responsibly. The concern is with those who disregard traffic regulations and place other road users at risk.
The appropriate response is not collective condemnation but effective accountability for individual violations.
The Resurgence of Okada in Restricted Areas
Equally deserving of attention is the continued appearance of commercial motorcycles in areas where their operations are prohibited.
Restrictions on commercial motorcycle operations in designated parts of Abuja are intended to address concerns relating to traffic management, public safety and security. Where such restrictions remain legally in force, compliance should not depend on the presence of enforcement officers.
Yet the periodic reappearance of Okada in restricted locations raises questions about the sustainability of enforcement efforts.
Seizures and other enforcement operations may send a strong message, but their long-term effectiveness depends on what follows. Are patrols sustained? Are repeat offenders identified? Are the applicable rules communicated clearly? Are penalties imposed lawfully and consistently?
These are the questions that matter.
It is equally important that enforcement distinguishes between operating in a prohibited area and other alleged violations, applying the relevant laws and procedures in each case.
Commercial motorcycle operators should not be stereotyped as criminals or treated as though every rider presents a security threat. Many depend on their occupation to support themselves and their families. Nevertheless, economic necessity cannot justify violating a lawful restriction or endangering other road users.
The challenge for the authorities is to enforce the rules fairly while addressing the wider transport needs of residents who depend on affordable mobility.
Delivery Motorbike Riders: The Red Light Is Not Optional
Another category of road users deserving urgent attention is delivery motorbike riders, whose growing presence on Abuja’s roads has brought with it concerns about traffic discipline.
It is increasingly troubling to observe some riders approaching traffic intersections and proceeding through red lights as though the signals do not apply to them. The urgency of delivering a package, food order or other item cannot take precedence over the safety of other road users.
A red traffic light is a mandatory instruction to stop, not a suggestion to be ignored at the rider’s convenience.
Such violations expose pedestrians, motorists and the riders themselves to avoidable danger. At busy intersections, a rider who disregards a red light can create a sudden conflict with vehicles moving lawfully across the junction.
While it would be unfair to generalise about all delivery riders, companies and platforms that engage them should take greater responsibility for ensuring that their personnel are properly trained, comply with traffic regulations and understand that punctuality must never be achieved at the expense of public safety.
FCT traffic authorities should also pay particular attention to these violations, applying the law consistently and appropriately.
The convenience of delivery services is welcome in a modern city, but convenience must never become a licence for recklessness.
Public Participation Through “How Is My Driving?”
Amid these concerns, one initiative deserves greater encouragement: the display of telephone numbers on the rear panels of some commercial trucks, accompanied by the question, “HOW IS MY DRIVING?”
The idea is simple but potentially valuable. A motorist who witnesses reckless driving, dangerous overtaking or another serious traffic violation can use the displayed number to report the incident to the responsible operator or reporting service.
This creates an opportunity for accountability beyond what traffic enforcement officers can achieve through roadside patrols alone.
However, displaying a telephone number is only the first step. For the initiative to inspire public confidence, the numbers must be active, complaints must be received and documented, and credible allegations must be investigated.
Transport companies should take ownership of this responsibility. Where a complaint is substantiated, appropriate disciplinary measures should follow, alongside any lawful action required by the relevant authorities.
The Federal Road Safety Corps, the police, the FCT traffic authorities and transport associations could also explore ways of strengthening public reporting systems, including clearer procedures for submitting complaints and providing relevant details such as the vehicle’s registration number, location, date and time of the incident.
Where appropriate, digital reporting channels could complement telephone hotlines.
Such systems must also guard against malicious complaints, protect complainants’ personal information and ensure that allegations are verified before sanctions are imposed.
The broader principle is worth embracing: road safety should not be the exclusive responsibility of enforcement officers. Every responsible motorist can contribute to identifying dangerous conduct, while transport operators must demonstrate that public complaints are taken seriously.
Enforcement Must Be Consistent, Visible and Lawful
The responsibility for addressing these challenges rests with several institutions, including the Nigeria Police Force, the Federal Road Safety Corps, the FCT Administration’s traffic enforcement agencies and other authorised bodies.
Their efforts must go beyond occasional crackdowns that attract attention but fail to produce lasting change.
There is a need for sustained patrols at identified traffic hotspots, particularly where one-way violations, red-light violations, dangerous manoeuvres and other recurring offences have been reported. Offenders should be dealt with according to the law, with appropriate procedures for evidence, prosecution and penalties.
Transport companies must also be held accountable where their drivers repeatedly violate traffic regulations, subject to the applicable law and evidence of their responsibility.
Delivery companies and digital platforms should similarly review their rider safety policies, training arrangements and performance expectations. Delivery targets should not encourage riders to compromise road safety.
At the same time, authorities should examine whether road design, inadequate signage, poor lighting or confusing traffic arrangements contribute to particular violations. Enforcement is essential, but preventing dangerous situations before they arise is equally important.
Public education should accompany these measures. Drivers and riders need to understand not only the rules but also the consequences of disregarding them.
Above all, enforcement must be impartial. A driver of a heavy truck, a commercial motorcyclist, a delivery rider, a private car owner and a public official should all be subject to applicable traffic laws. Selective enforcement undermines public confidence and encourages the perception that rules can be ignored by those who believe they can get away with it.
Abuja Must Set the Standard
As Nigeria’s capital, Abuja should demonstrate that orderly urban mobility is achievable through responsible road use, effective infrastructure and credible enforcement.
It is to establish a system in which regulations are clear, violations are addressed consistently, transport operators accept responsibility and members of the public have reliable channels for reporting dangerous conduct.
The telephone numbers displayed on trucks with the words “How Is My Driving?” offer a useful starting point for strengthening public participation. Their promise, however, will only be realised when complaints lead to appropriate investigation and accountability.
My encounter with the tipper driver carrying laterite in the darkness may have been a single incident, but it illustrates a concern that deserves serious attention: no road user should have to surrender the lawful right of way simply because another driver chooses to disregard the rules.
The message to the authorities, transport operators and road users is straightforward: road safety is a shared responsibility, but accountability for violations must never be optional.
Abuja does not need a culture of intimidation on its roads. It needs a culture of discipline, fairness and respect for human life.
The time for sustained, impartial and effective enforcement is now.
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