Before anarchy is let loose

By Sanya Oni

It is not entire surprising how some in our activist community have ingeniously framed the return of restriction clamped on the use of motorcycles and Keke for public transportation in some parts of Lagos as something of the government versus “the people”. In a country where the rich are said to entreat themselves to all manners of indulgences that our commonwealth can offer, the poor, it is argued, deserves to be left alone or worse, left to inflict their own share of communal rupture perhaps as salve to our seared consciences!

Just by the multiplicity of tales of agonies and deprivations woven around the enforcement, you’d be tempted to confuse the minor inconveniences imposed by the quest for modernity with the collapse of the entire transportation system! In the circumstance, the distinction between ‘restriction’ and ‘ban’ has become merely academic. If a few are willing to accept that the clampdown is limited to six Local Government Areas, nine Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) and ten major highways in the state, just imagine what it would take the rest of the vocal, insular crowd to appreciate the wider context in which the regulation was made. Such, unfortunately has been our tolerance of disorder that a major blight which that mode of transportation represents are not only rationalized but vociferously defended by those who should know.

Sure, there can be no end to the debate on whether the ban is a response to the growing insecurity in the mega-city; the public health and safety issues posed by their continuing operation or the attendant nuisance they constitute. Clearly, the more distracting the debate; the better it would be – so long as it keeps Nigerians doing what they love to do the most – talk! The difference is whether a government elected to solve fundamental problems can afford to dither on the menace that their operation has become.

We are not just here talking about enforcing the law but driving a fundamental social policy. I assume that Nigerians already know what the law says. Section 15(1), of the 2018 harmonized law signed by former governor, Akinwunmi Ambode is clear: “Subject to the provisions of Section 46 of this Law, motorcycles above 200cc engine capacity are exempted from the restriction on the use of motorcycles on the state highways.” And section 46(1) is even more specific: “As from the commencement of this law, no person shall ride, drive or propel a motorcycle or tricycle on a major highway within the state.” And the cost of violation – both rider and passenger – which is three imprisonment and forfeiture of motorcycles or tricycle to the state government.

In the same vein, I also assume that Nigerians also appreciate that Okada, as a mode of commercial transportation was something of a happenstance. And that while the other modes came under strict regulation for the purposes of public safety, the government, before now, merely looked away hoping that it would, at some point, disappear the same way it crept upon the system. Well, it hasn’t – and it doesn’t seem that it would disappear anytime soon! And the result – the swarming of the city-space by people by a band of unlicensed – and more often than not –anonymous operators.

There is a saying among my people – you withhold the rod so the child can live; isn’t that itself a recipe for delinquency of the type guaranteed to invite certain death?  Yours truly is certainly no stranger to the discourse – my post-graduate dissertation was on the subject. In a society riven with inequalities and one where opportunities are narrow and restricted, I understood the choice then as a mechanism of adaptation – what the American Sociologist Robert Merton described as innovation even if must admit that the context has changed dramatically over time. Then, we didn’t have to battle with terrorism; we didn’t have our streets and neighbourhoods invested with vagrants. Kidnapping was still an alien concept and landlords could be trusted to keep tabs on the tenants.

Surely, we didn’t have as many cars cramming the roads and the Okada claiming to be lord of the Manor. In any case, we didn’t have as many of the barely out of school kids hopping off with passengers on those contraptions without license all in the guise of trying to earn a few bucks. Then, there was something called apprenticeship – and the associated rigour of learning a craft. Now, they are all gone. Between then and now, it is a different world out there. Part of the new reality must be a Lagos – without the Okada.

I understand the anger of those complaining of being forced to trek, even if I believe it is misplaced. Rather than demand for the return of Okada, they should ask the government to create walkways to ease movements.  That way, they get to shed fat – which doctors assure, won’t hurt.

If you ask me – the focus of the current debate should be how to reduce the number of cars on the roads particularly during business hours; how to get water transportation running and to ensure an early completion of the intra-city rail. On a training programme, years back in the Singaporean enclave of Lee Kuan Yew, I observed that one drove to the central business district at peak period at the pain of shedding few dollars to the treasury. While I understand that change can be sometimes difficult; the alternative can sometimes equal stagnation. Lagos deserves to move – forward!

And now this…

Penultimate Sunday, Nigerians woke up to the news of an attempt to bomb Bishop Oyedepo’s Living Faith Church, Kaduna. As would be expected at a time like this, the discourse would soon veer to the religion of the alleged bomber. In a video clip that went viral, the police would seem far more interested in the religion of the alleged bomber than establishing the motive(s) or other possible linkages.

Now, we know that the alleged bomber is Nathaniel Samuel. What else does the police know? What of possible motives? Any clues yet? Is it an act of a lone wolf or are there accomplices? Is it, as some appear to suggest, a case of loony plain with the fireworks (banger).

While Nigerians can’t wait to hear the rest of the story, can’t we for once get serious as a people?