Known off the road as Orowale Samuel Kolapo, 35-year-old Onifoto, was not just an ordinary rider. Kola was known as a multitalented creative, a celebrated photographer, poet, storyteller, and entrepreneur whose work has been widely received and appreciated.

To those who knew Kola, he was disciplined, intentional, and passionate about his craft, and also recently became deliberate about exceling as a biker. To him, biking was more of an exploration. His first solo long ride from Lagos to Akure, which was a familiar task usually hopped on by many riders, ended in tragedy for him, leaving behind grief, tributes, and questions.

Beyond this painful loss highlights a larger issue that can no longer be ignored: the increasing risk of power bike fatalities on Nigerian roads as the population of bikers increase, and the need for stricter government regulations.

Power bike riding in Nigeria is gaining popularity. It has transitioned from what was once seen as a thing of interest into a visible subculture. Vibrant riding clubs focusing on safety, stunt riding, and social camaraderie are expanding. With major groups including the prestigious 09 Bikers in Abuja, the Ace Bikers Club, and the Nigerian Motorcycle Diaries, functioning under the umbrella of the Superbike Clubs Association of Nigeria (SCAN). High-capacity motorcycles, designed to reach extraordinary speeds within seconds, now share roads with commercial buses, trucks, and commuters. However, regulation has not evolved at the same pace as the machines themselves.

Nigeria’s lead government agency responsible for road safety administration, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), since its inception in 1988, has aimed to create a safe environment for vehicles across Nigerian highways through traffic laws and regulations, public education, vehicle registration, and driver’s license registration. However, over the years, these enforcement strategies have been more focused on commercial transport vehicles and low-capacity motorcycles, leaving out high-capacity private bikes, despite the associated risks.

The dangers that come with riding power bikes are far beyond imagination; they are real and have happened on different occasions. They have been proven by real accidents and severe injuries sustained by the riders. Long before Kola Onifoto’s death, Nigeria had witnessed high-profile accidents that involved high-capacity motorcycles.

One of the incidents involved Yusuf Buhari, son of the late former President Mohammadu Buhari, who sustained a fractured limb and head injury while riding a power bike at high speed around the Gwarimpa Area of Abuja, requiring an emergency surgery and medical care overseas. Although Yusuf recovered after a few weeks, the incident sparked public debate about the dangers associated with high-capacity motorcycles and the need for stricter measures to address them.

The cases of Kola Onifoto and Yusuf Buhari, among others, reflect an uncomfortable truth; it doesn’t matter if the rider is influential or an ordinary citizen. The fact remains that the dangers associated with power biking have significant effects when strict safety statutes are absent.

A closer look at Power bikes, these machines are not inherently dangerous. In the actual sense, a lot of riders strongly invest in safety gear and training, but the real issue is that most environments in Nigeria are not designed to manage the high-speed machinery. The consequences are always critical, and in most cases, often fatal.

Ensuring power bike riders are safe while riding begins with deliberate precautions and policies taken by the Federal Road Safety Corps, as it is the agency in charge of road safety administration in Nigeria. The FRSC is positioned to come up with initiatives and enforce measures that can greatly reduce the rate of fatalities involving high-performance motorcycles.

The mandatory use of certified safety gear by power bike riders is one of the important regulations that should be enforced. However, this does not mean that riders do not use protective equipment. While riders invest in this equipment, the FRSC has a critical role to play to formalize clear requirements that mandate power bike riders to use internationally certified helmets, armored riding jackets, reinforced gloves, protective trousers, riding boots, and reflective visibility gear. These safety equipments are created to reduce severe injuries when an accident takes place. They should be equally made essential for all riders.

Enforcing speed limits for power bikes is another key action that can be taken. Power bikes are designed for rapid movement and can easily exceed highway speeds. In light of this, the FRSC can start from adopting modern speed detection systems, which include highway speed cameras, and very strict penalties for riders who break speed regulations.

Introducing a special licensing framework for power bikes could also go a long way in improving safety outcomes. Bikers should be allowed to use a procedural licensing system that matches their skills with the capacities of their bikes. The FRSC may develop a system that requires riders to gain first-hand experience by riding lower-capacity bikes before graduating to using high-capacity power bikes.

Rider training and certification programmes are another policy that needs to be structured. The FRSC could join efforts with biker associations and training organizations to constitute a proper and effective riding course, specially designed for power bike riders, with commensurate licensing.

By implementing and enforcing strict biking regulations, it is safe to say that the FRSC can reduce the accidents associated with power biking and create a safer road environment for all users. As the popularity of high-capacity motorcycles continues to grow in Nigeria, proactive regulation will be essential in preventing further tragedies on Nigeria roads.

The greatest lesson we must learn from the demise of the young and talented Onifoto should be safer biking practices, guided by strict policies.

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