Residents of Borno State have expressed bewilderment following President Bola Tinubu’s commissioning of 3,000 electric motorcycles during a state visit on Saturday, despite an ongoing ban on the use of motorcycles across the state.
President Tinubu, who was in Borno on an official visit, unveiled a fleet of electric vehicles comprising 3,000 electric bikes, 500 tricycles, 100 cars and 20 42-seater buses as part of initiatives to enhance transportation in the state.
Speaking during the commissioning ceremony, the President commended Governor Babagana Zulum and the people of Borno State, describing the project as a significant advancement in mobility and transportation efficiency, particularly for rural communities.
“The electric vehicles, the tricycles, the charging terminals in their thousands ease the problems of mobility and transportation economy,” Tinubu stated.
However, the unveiling has sparked confusion among residents, as the use of motorcycles, including both electric and petrol-powered bikes, remains prohibited in the state on security grounds.
The Borno State Police Command reaffirmed the motorcycle ban on July 25, 2024, warning that anyone found riding or possessing a motorcycle would be arrested. In a statement signed by Police Public Relations Officer ASP Nahum Daso, the command explained that the decision was made by the Borno State Security Council due to prevailing security challenges.
“The Command has observed the flagrant use of motorcycles, especially electric bikes, in the State, and wishes to remind the general public that the ban on motorcycles in the state still subsists,” the statement read in part.
Daso also indicated that filling stations were barred from selling fuel to motorcyclists, warning that any station found violating the directive would be sealed and prosecuted.
Speaking with PUNCH Online on Monday, Daso confirmed that the ban remains in effect and continues to be strictly enforced.
“As of now, the status quo remains; the enforcement of the ban on electric and petrol-powered bikes continues. At the time, it came as an executive order from the governor, and he has not changed it,” he said.
The Senior Technical Assistant to the Governor on Print and Digital Communications, Abdulrahman Bundi, also confirmed that the ban is still in force.
“This is a police issue. If the police confirm that the ban is still ongoing, just know that that is our position. It simply means that it is still in force,” Bundi stated.
The apparent contradiction between the federal government’s commissioning of electric motorcycles and the state government’s ban has generated mixed reactions among residents, many of whom are demanding clarity on the issue.
Ibrahim Hassan, a resident of Polo area in Maiduguri, told PUNCH that residents had expected an official announcement regarding the status of the ban.
“How will you come and commission 3,000 motorbikes that you have banned? Who will they share it with, or do they want to keep it until they lift the ban? They should clarify it officially so that we can know if to go ahead and buy it with our money,” Hassan said.
Another resident, Alkali Adamu, questioned the logic behind the move on Facebook. “I would like to ask a simple question. A few months ago, Governor Babagana Zulum banned the use of electric bikes in Maiduguri. Today, however, the President commissioned electric bikes,” he wrote.
“Who then is expected to use these bikes? Does this action by the President imply that the governor has lifted the ban? Unfortunately, our leaders often take actions that create confusion among the public,” Adamu added.
While some residents expressed concern about the confusion, others welcomed the initiative but called for transparency regarding its implementation.
Umar Aminu commended the government for the project but emphasized the need for clarity on how the bikes would be utilized.
“We sincerely appreciate our governor for the many projects in the state, particularly the electric bikes he recently unveiled. However, we are worried about whether the government will only allow specific people to use such bikes or if the ban has been lifted. This we need to know so that we can go and buy with our money,” Aminu said.
The motorcycle ban in Borno State was implemented as a security measure to curb terrorist activities, as Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province insurgents have frequently used motorcycles to carry out attacks, kidnappings and reconnaissance missions in the region.
The state has been at the epicenter of the insurgency in Nigeria’s northeast for over a decade, prompting various security restrictions aimed at limiting the mobility and operational capacity of terrorist groups.
As confusion persists among residents, attention now turns to the state government to provide official clarification on whether the ban will be lifted to accommodate the newly commissioned electric motorcycles or if the vehicles will be restricted to specific authorized users or purposes.
