I can start by saying that the introduction of helmet for commercial and non-commercial motorcyclists and its subsequent enforcement is a welcome development in the transportation industry in Nigeria as well as a great impart on the health and safetiness of the generality of Nigerian people who use commercial motorcycle popularly called okada to move from one location to another in the transaction of their businesses inevery city and village in Nigeria today.
Now, it is status symbol to see the serious-minded commercial motorcyclists using helmet as well as providing for their passengers. The only problem with this new regulatory cum safety law is the rising increase in the number of all manner of skin infections around the head of wearers of the crash helmet. This is so considering the fact that it is only one helmet that is reversed for the generality of a particular motorcycle’s teeming passengers day-in-day-out. The one anyone can notice easily is the sore that developes at the nape of men’s neck. This disease is mostly acquired from the use of unsterilised shaving equipments from the numerous shaving saloons dotting the nooks and crannies of every city in Nigeria. The National Road Safety Commision that introduced and enforces the use of this helmet in Nigeria in the first quarter never considered the risks to the health of the male population of Nigerians whom would end up using the no-way-to-be-treated helmet in their estimations.
Nowadays, you’ll see men using their handkerchiefs to protect their exposed head skin before putting on the helmet without remembering that they would end up using the handkerchief to wipe off dirts from their faces and even dab it into their eyes.
As the manufacturers of the crash helmet are hailing the federal government agency’s decision to patronise them in the use of helmet and smiling to their banks, let us pause and ponder on the exposure of germs and other skin infections that users of helmet (men and women) are exposed to.
Who will take their health into consideration and still allow the law to stay in force?