Fahim Saleh, the 33 year old Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Gokada, a motorcycle ride-hailing service company based in Lagos, has spoken on the recent Okada ban in Lagos State
In a now viral video, Saleh who opted to invest in Lagos transportation having
spotted an opportunity from Bangladesh said his company thoroughly trained its
riders and that it ensured riders and passengers used helmets during trips,
these measures, he said, had enabled his company to achieve reduced accident
rates.
In the video, Saleh was heard saying, “We trained our
drivers extensively and manned them with the technology to understand the roads
that are bad and eliminate them. All these resulted in an accident rate that
was well below 0.1%.
“Since we re-launched in September 2019, we had about 250
accidents most minor out of the 350,000 or so rides that we have given. I will
tell you, our drivers are safe. We can show you the records to show our drivers
are safe. And every day, our priority is not how much we are earning but how do
we make our services safer.”
Saleh, whose company was among the pioneers of motorcycle
ride-hailing services in Lagos, lamented that it is tough for him as an
entrepreneur at the moment but he would not give up on Lagos and on Nigeria
because of its great potential.
“It is tough for an entrepreneur who is trying to innovate
and invest his own money in a country that is not my country. It is a country
that I feel has amazing potential and amazing people.
“As an entrepreneur, I am never going to give up because
that is the true attribute of an entrepreneur – never giving up. Entrepreneurs
are the ones that really change countries, that change cities, that make
amazing things to happen. So, Lagos, if you want amazing things to happen,
support entrepreneurs, support innovative businesses that are seeking to change
Lagos.”
I wondered why restriction and ban come handy to reporters. Okada was never banned in Lagos State,they were only restricted to certain areas of operation. And, if any unregistered company doesn't like the restriction, it can pack and get out of Lagos State. Okada drivers overbearing attitude in Lagos had caused lits of accidents. They have no respect for other road users talk less of traffic rules. They are better restricted to some areas for sanity to return to Lagos State.
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