'ELEMENT" wahala!!

For those that reside in Lagos , its no longer news that a new law has been enforced; ‘Okada riders’ (commercial motorcyclists) must wear ‘crash helmets’ and also have a spare one available for their passengers to wear too. since the beginning of this year, the law enforcement agencies have swooped on those not obeying this law.

I've heard people call the crash helmets so many names; some call it ‘element’, head wear’, 'bike helmet' etc, but I think I like the ‘element’ one

I had fun with my friends all through yesterday about different types of head helmets;…people were donning all sorts ‘hard hats’ used by construction site workers, some people had on the ones bikers use for racing, some had these old soldiers metal war helmet , some had shapes of bowls…infact all sort of head gears……and its more fun to see the passengers too…’passenger and driver’ in head gears cruising ……you get the feeling its some scene from ‘ocean 11’ or a Jackie Chan movie.
Check out the babes on ‘okada’….it was a site to behold…….with different hairdos ….tucked under different shapes of head gears in the name of ‘element’.

Since the enforcement of this ‘element’ law, there has been a lot of reservations about its use, mostly its been hygiene issues, who wants to catch 'lice' or skin disease?

I've even heard intriguing stories of fears that the 'okada' drivers could put ‘juju’ in the 'element 'and an unsuspecting passenger might just disappear to be used for a ritual later.

You need to see people wrapping up their head with different materials before wearing the 'element', to prevent them from contacting anything bad from these 'head elements'

I know if people had choices, they would avoid riding on 'okada' …. When I heard about the law…….I said to myself 'that this is it.... I would stop riding on okada'….but then we know how 'okadas' could be life savers in Lagos especially in the terrible traffic on the islands in the afternoons.

I heard some of my colleagues say they would go and shop for their own personal ‘element’ and put in their boots for those who have cars!

So I guess for those who do not own cars, we’ll start seeing …..people carrying sacks containing their 'element' to ride okada, or ladies hiding their 'element' in their big handbags!


While I know the crash helmet wearing is for our safety, (I really believe in safety measures), I've been telling people that ‘I am sorry o…….me I no fit wear 'element' o’ my reason has been that ‘It’s not hygienic’, how can I put on my head the same helmet every Tom, Dick and Harry has worn?

My kind of job requires us to go to site sometimes, and your head protection is a must, even at that we always had our own personal 'head element’!

Anyway, on my way to church yesterday I needed to ride on a commercial motorcycle, the 'Okada' driver I stopped to take me asked If I was going to wear the ‘element’ I said NO, but I agreed to hold it, if we had to pass through any police check point (so they would not arrest the guy).

On our way….we sighted some police men far off, na so yours truly quickly ‘denge' the helmet for head with one hand, but when we got to the police men, one of them shouted 'wear it very well o!' 'put it on your head properly'…I had to let the element ‘touch’ my head,……..oh my God!

I had a good laugh at myself, with all my mouth that ‘I’m sorry o', 'I CANNOT wear element'………..'lai lai that is not possible', 'they can't be serious', 'its dirty!! etc. I had an 'element' on my head!

I was hoping no one would take my picture and tag me on face book......I laughed and laughed and laughed at myself.
So much for 'element' wahala…………….