Kano Commuters Groan Over Banned motorcycles

By Maduabuchi Nmeribeh/Kano

Residents of Nigeria’s northern city of Kano have appealed to the state government to provide alternative means of transportation, following last week’s ban on commercial motorcyclists in the state.

Though those who spoke to P.M.NEWS hailed government’s decision, they, however, noted that there would have been proper planning before the ban, so as to cushion the adverse effect on commuters.

According to Alhaji Danladi Mohammed, “we are all aware that terrorists use motorbikes to wreak havoc, but government should have known that the common people depended mostly on Achaba (commercial motorcyclist) for transportation.

“Government should have made available enough tricycles that can serve the transportation needs of the masses. Soft loans should be made available to commercial motorcyclists so that they can use it to buy tricycles to be able to feed their families,” he said.

Danladi, a Kano-based businessman further stated that if over one million youths who were thrown out of job by the ban, are not given alternative opportunity to earn a living, they may be tempted to turn to crime.

The Emirate Council has supported the decision of the state government banning motorcyclists from carrying passengers in the city, just as the Governor, Engr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso described it as a weighty decision.

About a week ago, gun men, using an SUV car and motorbikes launched attack on the convoy of Emir of Kano, Alhaji Abdullahi Ado Bayero, killing six people while several others were wounded.

The revered Kano monarch survived the attack but his two sons— heirs apparent, Nasiru and Sanusi, got injured. They were flown to the United Kingdom, with the Emir, for medical treatment.

Acting on the advice of security chiefs in the state, Deputy Governor, Engr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, on a state broadcast, banned motorcyclists from carrying passengers. The ban took effect from Thursday, 24 January.

Ganduje appealed to Kano residents to show understanding and cooperate with government over the ban, pointing out that the action was taken to further ensure security of lives and property in the volatile state where gun men have continued to kill people almost on daily basis.

Meanwhile, the over one  million commercial motorcyclists in Kano are now looking for alternative means of survival.

P.M.NEWS learnt that even as many of them are moving out of Kano to the neighbouring states of Kaduna, Katsina and Jigawa states where their operation is tolerated, others are selling their motorcycles at a cheaper rate so as to raise fund for tricycle otherwise known as Keke NAPEP in the city.

“What some of us are doing now is to sell our motorcycles and gather the money to buy tricycle. Like myself, we are about eight friends—we have all sold our bikes and we are making plans to buy tricycle from the money so that we can be using it in turns to be able to sustain our families,” Malam Ibrahim Ado, a commercial motorcyclist told P.M.NEWS.

Local commuters in the city are also charging the government to give soft loans to local transporters for them to be able to buy tricycles or small cars for taxis for as to ease the problem of transportation within the city.

“I think it will only be fair for government to either buy these tricycles and small cars in large quantities, give them out on hire purchase or provide soft loans for people so that we can have enough taxis and tricycles on Kano streets to cushion the effect of this ban on commercial motorcyclists,” said Alhaji Abdulsalam Mohammed.

Speaking to newsmen at the Emir’s Palace, the Senior Counsellor, Alhaji Abbas Sanusi, Wambai Kano, supported the ban on motorcyclists, saying that the Council is of the view that the action taken by the state government was in the right direction.

The Wanbai further noted that apart from the attack on the Emir of Kano Alhaji Ado Bayero, motorcycles are being used to perpetrate all kinds of crimes in the state, hence the ban was timely and good for the security of the people.

He commended the state government and the security agents for taking the decision, urging the people of the state to rally round the security agents in the state in ensuring that Kano is safe for all.

Abbas, however, urged the state government to ensure they provide alternative jobs for some of the commercial motorcyclists who may have lost their means of livelihood by the action of the government.