On the 24th January, 2013 Kano State Government banned all motorbike users from carrying more than one person till further notice. The government decision was from the recommendation from the security agencies working to protect the lives and properties in the state.
If the recommendation from the JTF and related are based on informed decision that can help saving the lives of Kanawa, residents and restore the peace in the state is a welcome development. Moreover, especially if it will brings a situation where Muslims worships freely as major segment in the state and the indigenes and non indigenes Christians etc, enjoys daily lives without threats. Also, government needs to be committed to look at workable strategy that can help people in the state enjoy easy, accessible and affordable transport system as the major transport system is reviewed temporarily.
Before that day, there were extensive speculations that it is impossible as people will turn out massively to protest against it. Already the media houses across Nigeria and the world gets ready with their trumpet with some expects negative consequences might unfold during the event no matter how tiny to mould it as bigger story. Luckily for Kanawa nothing negatively unfold but positive which I will talk about later in the piece.
Although opposition parties are at the forefront politicizing the issue to a greater extent, the CSOs were so organize to write a communique and forward to government to show their stand on the issue including some recommendation of options for Achaba (going, express, kabu-kabu) and the likes. In fact for CSOs unlike the oppositions they are ready to be involved in the aspect of registration of motorbike users as their voluntary work to support the state. The government already appreciate their efforts and invited them for discussions.
On this issue, I recalled a conversation with one medical Dr in Katsina who returned from UK recently after concluding his masters. He entirely condemned the step took by the government and describe it as anti poor and the country using the usual model of just returned from abroad character. However, in order to balance his point of view I asked him on what he thinks the government should do in a situation where more than 99% of the attacks and killings in the state are through the use of motorbikes with more than one person on each bike. Once they arrived, they fired and zoom off. His response was " I cannot say anything till Iconducted a research before knowing what to recommend."
I am motorbike (power and mountain bikes) rider for long and short distance, and in fact I am also a victim of the ban as well. It is evident that the number of motorbikes not for commercial might tripled those for commercial in the state. Thus, the policy is not made for Achaba but all users as it affects Lifan (Tsuntsun Soyayya) and other non commercial users.
An interactive chat with Dr (name withheld) few weeks ago has different perception about the issue. He appears not happy with the policy not because some people will loose jobs but he forecast loosing his hundreds of customers. According to him "as a private practitioners if people walks a lot they are going to be much healthier and active." He added, "look at British citizens, Americans and even in Saudi Arabians walk down to bus stations and many places; they are far better than us in fitness. But here everyone eats mostly unhealthy and no exercises. Just imagine these few weeks the number of sick clients is down to my care."
To get wider picture of the debate I visited some hospitals in my home town Kano and discovered there is sharp reduction of motorbike accidents related cases across the state through verbak interactions and hospital registers. Speaking with Igbo nurse under anonymity mentioned "most of our motorbikes victims are now are old patients before the one man-one bike policy. This is good because, before the ban at least 10 terrible cases per day from motorbikes users but today in most cases one a day without." She said.
