Abuja :Two Peoples, One City

-By Halima Sadiya Mamud- FCT, Abuja

The Nigerian government is becoming more and more insensitive towards the majority of Nigerians; a democratic government elected by the people has turned against the masses; so much for democracy. After this, who knows, maybe the Road Safety Corps will start to ask pedestrians to pay ‘fine’ for trekking with shoes ‘not suitable for the Abuja roads’.

I am not implying that sanitizing the capital city is a terrible thing, but at what cost? There is a difference between enforcement of laws and repression? Should any the enforcement of a law disregard the consequences that might follow, it becomes an unpardonable act of repression, the Federal Capital Territory might see this move as  deliberate in its own interest, but what it might lead to, they have failed to consider as we have seen in many of the draconian policies of the FCT minister. They have taken food out of the mouths of thousands, increased the unemployment rate, deprived many of their means of survival, and increased poverty in thousand folds. The ban on “Okada” has not affected adults alone whose facial expression spell-frustration! as they trek haplessly on Abuja streets and highways, children can be seen trekking to school as late as 9.15 am, it leaves one imagining were they had been trekking from, making them exhausted and reducing concentration in class, should we blame their parents for not owning cars, when those with cars grind their teeth before fuelling their tanks. The truth is that the FCT minister and super patriot, Nasir El-Rufai does not have kids who need go to Abuja schools on commercial motorcycles, if his kids are not going to London and /or American based schools, they are certainly escorted to their schools in Abuja by a contingent of the police, at least, understandably for “security reasons”.

I live in what used to be a “peaceful” part of Abuja, you hardly hear of armed robbery and theft cases. Two days ago we woke up to gunshots; almost 30 shots must have been fired. About eight armed men, one was shot dead and the others ‘escaped’ from the police as usual. And I knew it was just the beginning. What El-Rufai does not know is that a man can turn to a beast when deprived of his means of livelihood, when he transforms into beast his action are no more rational, if one can’t imagine what ‘rational’ Nigerians like him do, try not to imagine what the irrational ones can undo.

How the third world complains of marginalization from the developed nations is the same way we marginalize our own kinds over here, heard of Neo-colonialism? It’s worse than Colonialism. Our brothers treat us worse than colonial masters did. Only God knows what goes on in their comprador networks (whatever that means!), just because one neo-colonial master wants a contract for importing buses, you ban the use of commercial motorcycles. What do they think Nigeria is? Developed? No we are far from that, at 46, the United States citizens were still riding horses. Almost 90 years after the Chinese revolution, with china’s sky rocketing economy, they still ride bicycles so why can’t we be allowed to ride on motorcycles to our destinations since there is a failed policy of mass transit, we could at least argue the points above to defend our failures. Isn’t it an admittance of failure on the part of the so-called Economic Reform Policy of this era, of which the FCT minister is a shining star or poster child, that Nigerians in Abuja still can’t move from point A to Point B, for God sake, the French still uses motorbikes and bicycles? We have no similarities with the developed nations, only differences; and yet we adopt policies handed down by their technocrats, policies that will have such persons sent to jail in their home countries.

Between childhood and adulthood is adolescence, though the most sensitive and emotional laden stage; it can be the most interesting. The Nigerian government is missing out the adolescence stage in our growth and development process. We can never be complete if we disregard sensitive issues, especially policies that affect the masses, the government cannot get away with it for too long, Nigerians can suffer and smile, but they are not fools and someday all of these might explode. We shouldn’t be in a rush to be like the developed nations especially since we refuse to follow rules for development; it took them a while to get to where we see them today. For their development they tried numerous policies, when not sure, they were experimental not enforcing, some of their policies failed and they were successful with others, they listened to the cries of their masses, not turn deaf ears. For each policy, there were palliatives and alternatives, for each road under construction, there was a detour, for each underground tunnel, there were alternatives in the name of flyovers, for each bus supplied there were routes on which they ply. How does a minister restore the master plan of a city whose map he does not know how to read? Otherwise, why won’t the FCT policy makers know that a few cosmetic public transit buses would not solve Abuja’s Okada problem. Had it ever occurred to our policy makers that if there were adequate buses, nobody in his or her right senses will risk her life or limb climbing ‘Okada’ except for aesthetic purposes?

What is done elsewhere, where these ideas were imported, is that before a government places a ban, especially on any means of transportation an alternative option must be provided, the buses provided by the F.C.T cannot take care of the population it is intended for. For some people living in Abuja (who own cars) the streets haven’t been this peaceful in a long time, but if they use their human hearts and look to both sides of the road, they will know that those less privileged ones don’t deserve to trek under the scorching sun and unbearable heat, but most important, this peace of the graveyard can only last but for a while. Some say all fingers are not equal, then why do we have the government to cut down further on the unequal fingers? The government is to represent the interest of the masses and provide for them where they cannot provide for themselves. Why is the Nigerian government turning against it own masses?

 The other day, they swore that petrol was cheaper than water and so jerked up prices of petroleum products, even as we were making huge profits from sales on the international market. They invoked US, UK and elsewhere as the reason why they can’t continue to sell the products cheap. Last week my friends in the US told me prices of gas (petrol) has gone down almost by half, they ask if petrol prices have also gone down in Nigeria, well your guess is as good as mine, I just kept laughing because, I couldn’t cry!

Nigerians have so many questions for the government, but no one is paying attention to the questions asked and those asking them. It is quite pathetic that things have taken the turn they have now. If our government wants to imitate the developed nations is asking for us to pay for what we consume or practice capitalism in its crudest form, we deserve all the things the capitalists have, things like security, free basic education, good health care facilities, good infrastructure and electricity. If they can provide all of these for Nigerians, we would care less if they placed a ban on the use of cars. I mean if any one breaks a leg while trekking, we could just dial 911 instead of 199 that no one ever picks up – and pretend that the leg broke while we were doing western exercises to lose some weight!

Robot  Villager

# 1 ...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 09.10.2006 00:12

Iphey  Villager

# 2 Wow! Wow! Wow! Wow! Wow!... Halima this is a very good article.. I was shocked myself to hear of the Okada ban in Abuja, and I wondered yet again what El Rufai must have been thinking. I'm not sure how this government decides on any of its policy framework from its citizen. However the FCT minister El-Rufai takes the cake Time and time again for all the half baked, half researched and very repressive policies that he continues to institute at the FCT. They neither take into cognizance the needs of the common man, nor do the ordinary citizens any good. BTW does this mean that people with their own personal Okada's cannot drive it in Abuja as well? Is the ban aimed at commercial operation of Okada? So those big boys that own Power Bikes in Abuja nko? Are they allowed to drive it around as well? na wa .... I can’t even get my head around this one. Posted by Iphey| 09.10.2006 01:20

EezeeBee  Villager

# 3 Halima, great article. The most poignant question you ask is: Why is the Nigerian government turning against it own masses? This is at the heart of all we find wrong and painful in Nigeria; the disconnect between 'government officials' and everyone else. More tragically, there is absolutely no empathy on the part of the 'high and mighty' for anyone else! It doesn't seem to matter what kind of hardship they put people under in the name of 'progress'. Like you, I live to see Abuja and environs (which includes the WHOLE nation) improved but in that process, I do not accept that the occupants of the country be impoverished into extinction. This okada ban situation, like you say, results indeed into 'peace' of the graveyard. Posted by EezeeBee| 09.10.2006 03:30

truthsayer33  Villager

# 4 Brilliant article! Now if instead of suffering in silence the masses trekked to the minister's house to bang pots and pans....maybe we will have the beginnings of a better Nigeria. Posted by truthsayer33| 09.10.2006 04:47

Opsie  JJC

# 5 Halima, Much as I appreciate the pain and discomfort taking okadas out of Abuja city is causing, I think the benefits of taking them out far outweighs this pain. The accident and emergency units and morgues of several hospitals would defiantely be recording a decrease in patients in the past 9 days. Buses have been provided although not enough but it is a good start. I notice also that labour has introduced luxurious buses. The buses have also started plying side streets that were initially not on their route. Okada riders had started upgrading to snatching bags before El-Rufai sent them packing. Yes okadas were the last option when you were running late for appointments but they were also the quick getaway options for robbers. Driving in Abuja is now a dream. The town is a whole lot saner now. Although El-Rufai's pronouncements initially cause a lot of discomfort, the long term benefits far outweigh the discomfort. For example, Wuse market - when the illegal structures were brought down it was like the world was going to end but it is so convinient now to walk through the shops and we now even have parking space in the market. I'm sure some other state capitals would soon start copying El-Rufai style as per okada. Whichever way you look at it, they were a menace when they were around. Thank God they are off the roads now. Posted by Opsie| 09.10.2006 06:12

akuluouno  Villager

# 6 Dear Halima, I think the policy was not well thought out. Okadas are weapons of mass maiming and killing since Udoji salary review in the 70s. In the abscence of a mass means of transport, ElRufai should have thought of better ways to gradually phase out Okada without inflicting pains on the masses. Posted by akuluouno| 09.10.2006 06:43

Oghre  Villager

# 7 Come 2007 EL Rufai may be no more; and all his good work and “master plan� will leave with him, sadly even his good reforms may disintegrate into the Nigerian monster of “business as usual�…and then Okada will be back... and Abuja will become a decay like many Nigerian cities. EL Rufai may have stepped on toes (both poor, rich, elite) but he is almost certainly one of the few Nigerians worthy of international commendations, reform comes with hardships, pain and patience. Nigerians are not patient people; they moan and whine when the status quo changes, even if it’s for the better. If all the masses of Abuja are suffering is lack of basic transportation then what can I say about the man’s achievements? Has he not turned Abuja into a high tech modern day national capital city? Almost 100% of Okadas are unlicensed and an eyesore like molue that should not be seen anywhere near Nigeria’s capital city, El Rufai is right, ban them, remove them, cleanse the city of rot… but then provide alternative means of cheap transport, well regulated and managed. I am with El Rufai all the way, no offence to sycophants of former Abuja ministers and future “business as usual� ones. Ben Oghre Posted by Oghre| 09.10.2006 07:41

salstep  Villager

# 8 I am a bit confused about the ban. Does the ban only apply to commercial okada? What if i decide to buy my own Okada for daily commute, will i fall foul of the law? Don't changes like this need to be approval from legislators? Posted by salstep| 09.10.2006 07:48

Papino  Villager

# 9 Halima, Brilliant post but we should honestly look into the other side of the "Okada"wahala in the transport section of the Nigerian economy.Yes poor people are more likely to feel the pain of a blanket ban of "Okada"anywhere in Nigeria.It would have been a different ball game if the Federal government and the FTC authority took care of the transportion inadiquacies i agree,but apart from the recklessness of the Okada drivers and the enormous record of accidents,okada has turned out to be a tool for robbers who use them to snatch mobile phones,escape after robbery and so on because of its mobility and easy meandering capabilities. If the original plan of Abuja is to have only buildings that are authorised and means of transport that are also authorised,what then is the problem with keeping to the rules?Salstep,please note that Okada did not come with any legislation and cannot go with legislation. I would agree that Okada commutters should have been given up to three months notice to get used to a life without Okada.Otherwise,it is in order to get at least one decent city in Nigeria that can accomodate the rich and poor alike. If the abuja case turns out good as per reducing accidents,thefts from hoodlums on such bikes and so on,i would recommend that it is applied to every major city starting from Enugu where majority of the crimes are committed by people using Okada. Posted by Papino| 09.10.2006 08:28

Calche  Villager

# 10 Halima: Again, this article is well thought out. I saw your reference to "okada" and the ban-ban mentality as a metaphor (like Fela would say: burn burn na im dey sweet them pass!). You were very correct in your assesment of the failed economic reform policy. If there were enough buses to move the 'masses' around, Okada would have generally fizzled out without any ban. We must separate criminal activities from this argument, that again, is also a failure on the part of government, there is no guarrantee of security in Nigeria. Most assasins don't operate on Okada, they use mercedez benz, most bank robbers use fast moving BMWs, shall we recommend a ban on those cars as well. I don't know if I will ever climb an Okada for fear of falling off, but the solution lies in a well thought out mass transit policy. These gra gra policies to restore the 'masterplan' of Abuja will fail in a few months if there are no clear alternatives to contain the mass poverty in Abuja, Enugu, Lagos, Kano, Kaduna, Port Harcourt etc. Go ask the expatriates who were once believed to be untouchable how a festering Niger Delta insurgency can make nonsense of any form of artificial security barriers. NVS folks, read what Halima wrote more intensely, read deeper and understand that this girls has called for all the suggestions being made in her well delivered homily. It is not about a motley crowd wanting El-Rufai to become the next president or win the nobel prize, it is about public policy and the lack or failure of it! Posted by Calche| 09.10.2006 08:46

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