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Can Lagos manage without its commercial motorbikes?

Lagos, Nigeria鈥檚 largest city, has banned use of its commercial motorbikes, okada, due to safety concerns

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鈥檚 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 大象传媒鈥檚 Olivia Ndubuisi who lives and works in Lagos about what鈥檚 it like living in the city and how this ban will affect locals.

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16 minutes

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