How to ride safely on an Okada: A brief guide for anybody visiting Lagos

Lagos is the commercial capital of Nigeria. The traffic in Lagos can be hectic and an Okada is the best mode of transport to use as you’ll find one almost everywhere. An Okada is what most Nigerians call Motorcycle taxi.

There are two methods to get an Okada Ride in the city of Lagos

1 Hail a random Okada on the street
2. Hail a safe Okada ride with an app

We recommend the latter because it is cheaper, convenient, and safe.

Get a SIM card

The first thing to do is to get yourself a SIM card if you don’t have one yet. A SIM card will be helpful to access local mobile data from your mobile phone as well as to make calls.

Download an Okada-hailing app

Amongst the Okada-hailing apps in Lagos, We prefer MAX Okada because it is very safe and affordable. Your newly acquired SIM card will come in handy here. You will need the phone number to register with the MAX Okada app, and the network to get a mobile data plan that will get you going. MAX Okada app run on an active internet connection.

You can download it from Google Play Store or Apple App Store

Request for an Okada ride

Before you begin your ride, know your destination and pick up location. These will guide the Okada driver that will pick you up.

You should receive a call from the driver to pick you up, to confirm your location and to clarify the amount of time you should wait.

Request for a helmet

When the MAX Okada rider arrives, ask him/her for a helmet. The rider will give you one for your safety. The driver will also give you a hairnet, to protect your hair from any dirt and dust that could have accumulated in it. If all is set, you can hop onto the Okada for the ride.

Reaching your destination

After reaching your destination, the driver should stop the trip, and a price break down will show on your phone and theirs. This break down comprises of the base fare, the price per kilometres. After confirming that the price is as it should be, make payment and rate your rider.

So are you visiting Lagos and you want to get a ride taste of the city, get an Okada. It’s the fastest and cheapest means of transport.