Ex-FRSC ACM raises safety concern over tricycles plying highway in Kano

Concern

By Olufunmi

Alhaji Kabiru Yusuf-Nadabo, a retired Assistant Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), has raised concerns over the recklessness of commercial tricycle operators, popularly known as Keke Napep, along major highways in Kano State.

Yusuf-Nadabo, said he observed that tricycle operators have extended their operations beyond the city centre to major highways, contrary to established traffic regulations.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Communitypen on Tuesday in Kano, the retired corps marshal, recalled that the state government had in 2013 ban commercial motorcycles and introduced tricycles as an alternative means of transportation.

“Stakeholders reached a gentleman’s agreement restricting tricycle operations within designated urban routes. On no account, therefore, were tricycles expected to ply major highways like other vehicles,”he said.

Yusuf-Nadabo urged security agencies like, FRSC, Police Force, and Kano Road Traffic Agency to collaborate to curb growing menace.

He recalled that safety, security and safety go hand in hand, but much attention is being given to security, while safety is often neglected, forgetting that safety must come first.

The ex-frsc boss urged Kano state government to urgently convene a stakeholders’ forum to reassess and enforce operational limits for tricycle operators in order to safeguard lives and property.

He said, “Kano is unique in having eight major highways directly linking the city centre to other parts of the country, with operational limits for each route.

“Tricycles operating on highway mm poses serious traffic and safety risks. The same situation is observed on Wudil road, where tricyclist now go beyond Wudil to Gaya.

“To address traffic challenges, there is need for meetings of traditional rulers, police, civil defence, transport unions, media, among others to review traffic situations and collectively took decisions”,he said.

He raised alarm that the crash statistics which involve tricycles on highways is alarming and thereby called for urgent intervention.