Time to Prioritize Public Safety Over Politics: The Crisis of Encroached Pavements in Kano
By Yusuf Abubakar Ibrahim
In a disturbing turn of urban decay, pedestrian walkways across Kano State have increasingly become hijacked by street hawkers and makeshift traders, turning what should be safe corridors for pedestrians into bustling, unsafe mini-markets.
What is a growing trend of commercial invasion on pavements is not only affecting free movement but also posing serious safety and traffic hazards to residents.
In many developed nations and even in some progressive states within Nigeria, there is a clear understanding that pavements exist to protect pedestrians from vehicular danger.
However, in Kano State, the reverse appears to be the norm.
Sidewalks are now dominated by traders and hawkers who have made these public paths their permanent places of business.
This worrisome trend, according to urban observers, has contributed to increasing incidents of road accidents, traffic congestion, and heightened risks for school children, the elderly, and persons living with disabilities who must now navigate through vehicle lanes to reach their destinations.
Even more troubling is the attitude of some of the traders, who now claim ownership of these spaces and, in some cases, reportedly harass or intimidate pedestrians attempting to use the pavements for their intended purpose.
The growing entitlement to public property is not only unlawful but reflects a deeper social and moral erosion that should concern all stakeholders.
Efforts by successive governments to enforce regulations and reclaim the pavements for public use have often been met with political pushback and populist resistance. Instead of encouraging order and public safety, such policies are frequently politicized, with critics portraying them as anti-poor or oppressive, even when public interest is clearly at stake.
This unhealthy politicization has continued to undermine genuine attempts to reform urban management and improve the quality of life for Kano residents.
Experts argue that the State is at a critical juncture where bold, non-partisan decisions must be made to restore order and dignity to public infrastructure.
It’s time to put politics aside and face the facts. If the government fails to act decisively, our cities will remain in disarray, and the pride we have in Kano’s rich cultural and historical legacy will continue to diminish.
The call now is for the government to take the bull by the horns, firmly but humanely enforce public order laws, provide alternative spaces for small-scale traders, and restore pavements to their rightful users: the pedestrians.
The task may be difficult, and it may not win immediate popularity. But if Kano must truly develop socially, economically, and morally, then the era of politicizing public safety must come to an end.
Yusuf Abubakar Ibrahim wrote in from Kano State
