The Unwanted Commuters
Imagine driving down a busy Abuja expressway, eyes peeled for 'one-chance' taxis, only to find yourself slamming on the brakes because a herd of cattle has decided that the middle of the road is the perfect grazing spot. It makes you wonder if we are in a state capital or a village market. The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has finally had enough of this, calling out the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to enforce long-standing regulations against roaming livestock.
Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, who serves as the National Coordinator for HURIWA, argues that the nation’s capital needs to look the part. If Abuja is supposed to be the center of order and urban planning, it shouldn't be a place where pedestrians and motorists share space with wandering herds. This isn’t just about the nuisance of cow dung on the asphalt or the traffic jams caused by a stray bull; it’s a massive safety hazard for everyone trying to get home in one piece. Abuja, as the nation's capital, should reflect orderliness, proper urban management, and strict compliance with regulations guiding public safety and sanitation.
A City Under Pressure
Beyond the animals, the streets of Abuja are feeling increasingly dangerous. Residents are dealing with the persistent threat of 'one-chance' robbery syndicates—criminals who pose as commercial cab drivers to lure unsuspecting passengers into their vehicles to rob them blind. HURIWA’s recent statement doesn’t just ask for cow control; it demands that the Inspector-General of Police and the Department of State Services (DSS) stop working in silos and start hunting these gangs down with real intelligence-led operations. This means sharing information and coordinating their efforts to effectively combat the threat.
Nyesom Wike, a former Governor of Rivers State, was appointed as the FCT Minister by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in August 2023. Known for his 'Mr. Projects' reputation and a no-nonsense approach to governance in Port Harcourt, his tenure in Abuja has been marked by a flurry of demolitions and a focus on infrastructure revival. Critics often point to his aggressive style, while supporters say he is exactly what the capital city needs to stop it from descending into a slum.
Balancing Urban Life and Traditional Habits
There is a long history of friction between urban planners and cattle herders in Nigeria. Many state governments have passed anti-open grazing laws over the years, aiming to modernize agricultural practices and prevent conflict between farmers and herders. Yet, Abuja often feels like it exists in a grey zone where federal directives seem to clash with the reality on the ground. When livestock wanders onto highways, it signals a failure of the FCT Administration to bridge this gap. The current situation shows that the administration hasn't yet found a balance between modernizing the city and respecting traditional practices.
Security in the FCT has been a thorny issue for years, with incidents of kidnapping and armed robbery spilling over from surrounding states like Nasarawa and Kaduna. The call for better synergy between the police and intelligence agencies like the DSS is an old song in the Nigerian security choir, but the demand for transparency regarding the prosecution of arrested robbery suspects adds a fresh layer of urgency. HURIWA wants to see more than just a list of arrests; they want to know who is being punished and why. This lack of transparency raises more questions about the effectiveness of the security agencies.
The Path Ahead
The FCT Administration will likely face pushback from cattle owners who have historically relied on city routes to reach markets. However, the urban management laws on the books are clear: the highways are for vehicles, not grazing. Success here would require a mix of strict law enforcement and the provision of designated spaces outside city centers for livestock trade. This would mean taking a closer look at existing regulations and finding ways to implement them more effectively.
For the average commuter, the hope is that these calls lead to actual change rather than just another press statement gathering dust in a file. Whether it’s clearing the roads of cattle or putting an end to the 'one-chance' menace, the expectation is that the person in the big office at the FCT secretariat will finally prove that the rule of law applies to every lane in the city. It remains to be seen if the FCT Administration can deliver on these promises and make Abuja a safer place for all its residents.