Okada Riders) and Alcohol Related Problems in Delta State, Nigeria
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Covenant International Journal of Psychology (CIJP). Vol.2, No.1, June. 2017 An Open Access Journal Available Online Commercial Cyclists (Okada Riders) and Alcohol Related Problems in Delta State, Nigeria Florence Omumu1, Pauline Tibi1 & Olufunke Chenube2 1Department of Counselling Psychology, Delta State University, Nigeria 2Department of Early Child Education, College of Education, Agbor Delta State, Nigeria Abstract: Driving under the influence of alcohol has been identified in past studies and reports as the major cause of road accidents and other public health issues. Commercial cyclists (popularly known as okada riders in Nigeria) pose a great danger to the public in most part of Nigeria because of their reckless riding behaviours. This study therefore examined the prevalence and problems of drinking among okada riders in Delta State, Nigeria. It is a cross sectional study of 250 okada riders across Delta State. Two sets of scales were used to collect data from the various parks. The AUDIT scale was used to establish the prevalence of alcohol drinking while the second scale teased out the problems associated with drinking. The results showed the prevalence of drinking, their perception about the problems associated with drinking and the number of accidents they have had in the past. The regression analysis showed drinking prevalence and occurrence of accidents and other public health concerns... It was therefore recommended that the drinking-driving policy in Nigeria should be strengthened as the advocacy on harm reduction is gaining global concern. Keywords: Alcohol, okada, accidents, public health, prevalence Introduction and some other African countries Motorcycle is a mode of such as Togo, Benin, Burkina Faso, transportation used in most part of the Sierra Leone and Liberia, world; in advanced countries and motorcycles are used for hire and economy, it is usually ridden for commercial purposes (Wikipedia, pleasure and adventure but in Nigeria 2015). It is popularly called „Okada‟ 63 Florence Omumu et al CIJP (2017) 2(1) 63-74 in Nigeria and it is a preferred mode okada. The National Orthopaedic of transportation for both old and Hospital in Lagos (former capital of young and men and women. Okada Nigeria) records between September gradually became a mode of 2000- June 2009 showed 1,789 commercial transportation in Nigeria victims of okada accidents (CLEEN, in the late 1980s and early 1990s 2013). This record is just for one during the economic downturn and State out of the 36 States in Nigeria, introduction of the Structural it will be quite alarming when the Adjustment Program (SAP) records of all the Orthopaedic (Arosanjin, Olowosulu & Oyeyemi, hospitals in Nigeria are aggregated. 2012; Wikipedia, 2015). The Alcohol has been identified as one of economic downturn with its attendant the major causes of motorcyclists‟ consequences like unemployment led crash in past studies in and outside many young people to the use of Nigeria; in the US, 32% of the Fatal motorcycles for commercial purpose. Accident Reporting system data as Another major reason for the steady indicated in Fagnant & Kockelmen rise in the use of okada in Nigeria is (2013) of motorcycles collisions the lack of sustainable public involved alcohol. There are some transport and bad roads. Many prefer studies in Nigeria affirming the role okada because of its fastness and of alcohol in the fatal crash of ability to manoeuvre the incessant motorcyclists; Alti–Muazu &Aliyu heavy traffic in major cities and the (2008) in their study of commercial ability to reach remote areas where cyclists in Zaira, Northern Nigeria buses cannot easily access. found a high prevalence of 59.5% of Though all vehicles plying the road road traffic accident that was are at risk of injury and accidents, associated with the use of psycho motorcyclists from past research active drugs. Ogunmodede findings and road traffic report &Akangbe (2013), Ogunmodede, globally stand a greater risk and Adio, Ebijuwa, Oyetola &Akinola account for most of the road traffic (2012) and Okojie & Omuemu (2006) accidents (Fagnant & Kockelman, in their studies found high alcohol 2013). In America where motorcycles prevalence among motorcyclists in are not used for commercial purpose Oyo and Benin respectively. there is still the problem of fatality of Ogunmodede and Akangbe (2013) road traffic accidents. In 2010, it is succinctly described the dangers of reported that 4,187 fatal crashes okada accidents as so serious that occurred in the US and it resulted in a sometimes lead to instant death, loss total of 4,462 persons been killed of limbs, sight, brain damage and (Fagnant & Kockelman, 2013). terrible economic loss. Though some Though road traffic accident is reasons have been given to justify the underreported and underestimated in use of alcohol among okada riders Nigeria, CLEEN (2013) reported that such as to keep awake, suppress almost half (47%) of the road fatigue (because most of them work accidents in Nigeria involved an 64 Florence Omumu et al CIJP (2017) 2(1) 63-74 for more than 10 hours per day), peer like Kwale, Agbor, Umuenede, pressure, and mood elevation (Alti Obiaruku, Mosagar, Akumaeze, Muaza&Aliyu, 2008). Another reason Ubuluku, Isele Uku ,Eku,and Sapele. for easy patronage of alcohol among The samples and locations were cyclists in Nigeria is because alcohol selected purposively taking into retailers are close to most okada considerations where okada business parks (Ogunmodede et al., 2012; thrives. Three of these towns (Agbor, Okojie & Omuemu, 2006). In most Umunede and Obiaruku) were part of Nigeria, okada riders/drivers selected for the study because of the are usually males with very few huge okada activities These towns are exceptions of females and they are located in Delta North Senatorial also young people between 18-40 Districts and they are predominantly years (Ngim & Udosen, 2007; Adisa, Christians. These towns do not have 2012). Males and young people are other mode of intra-city known to easily abuse alcohol transportation system during the (Adekeye, 2012). daytime except for okadas. In Agbor, Alcohol is known to impair a rider‟s there are different points where the sense of judgement and leads to okada riders wait to pick up excessive speeding and violent riding passengers. For this study, the which ultimately leads to fatal researchers used a major point linking crashes. The goal of „Decade of the town to the major highway Action for Road safety 2011-2020‟ is (Meiriere Junction). Many of okada to stabilise and then reduce the level riders ply this route daily, so the of road traffic fatalities (CLEEN, researchers approached them at this 2013). To achieve this, it is necessary point. At Umunede town, there are to establish the prevalence of alcohol two major parks, the Express and among okada riders particularly in Market Junctions. The Market States where any known study has Junction Park is located inside the not been done, though some studies town and the researcher decided to have been carried out in Benin, Oyo, use this Park, since it is central. The Lagos and Zaira, the thrust of this last location, Obiaruku, has two paper therefore is to determine major parks. The two parks are small alcohol prevalence among so they were used for the study. The motorcyclists in Delta State and the okada riders were approached at all problems associated with drink these Parks and the purpose of the driving/riding. study was explained to them after Methods which their consent were obtained This survey is a cross sectional study before the administration of the questionnaire. of 222 commercial cyclists drawn from okada hotspots in Delta State. Most of the okada riders are young The Delta State Government recently people who can read and write, so banned okada from operating on they were able to respond to the items major highways and towns in the in the questionnaire. The few who State but the ban did not affect towns could not read had the questions read 65 Florence Omumu et al CIJP (2017) 2(1) 63-74 and explained to them in „Pidgin rider. Females ride motorcycle in the English‟. All the okada riders State but not for commercial sampled are males, it is not common purposes. to see female commercial okada Table 1: Demographic Characteristics of Respondents Variable Category Frequency Percentage Age Below 20 years 21 9.25 21 - 30 years 107 47.14 31 - 40 years 76 33.48 41 - 50 years 21 9.25 Above 50 years 2 0.88 Religion Christianity 155 68.58 Islam 43 19.03 African Trad. 28 12.39 Rel. Marital status Married 144 65.45 Single 76 34.55 Years of 1 – 2 years 67 29.91 experience 3 – 5 years 130 58.04 Above 5 years 27 12.05 Result in Table 1 puts majority of A contains demographic variables study respondents to be aged 21 – 30 (i.e. age, religion, marital status and years [107 (47.1%)] and 31 – 40 years of experience) Section B years [76 (33.5%)], while the contains questions that were extremely younger [below 20 year; developed to identify individuals 21 (9.3%)] and older [41 – 50, and whose alcohol consumption has above 50 years; 23 (10.1%)] become hazardous. AUDIT is the respondents were sparsely main instrument used for the study, it represented. Similarly, study is a 10 item instrument that bother on respondents of Christian extraction the frequency and quantity of alcohol [155 (68.6%)], Married [144 use. It is structured in a five–response (65.5%)], and having 3 – 5 years of format, ranging from „never‟ through riding experience [130 (58.0%)] were „monthly, less than monthly‟ more prominent respectively. „weekly‟ to „daily or almost daily use Instrument of alcohol‟. „Never‟ attracts a score of Two sets of questionnaire were used 0, „monthly or less‟ attracts 1- for data collection.