On youth empowerment in Bauchi state


Often times, disruptive government policies, no matter how well-intended, are met with strong resistance either because those directly affected do not promptly understand the thrust of policy or some shady beneficiaries of the status quo, will not take dislodging their comfort zones, without putting up a fight.

So, it was when the Bauchi state government announced the banning of commercial motorcycles, commonly called ‘achaba’, in the state metropolis. The operators could not accept the explanation that the action was taken in the best interest of the people, to mitigate the health hazards posed by environmental pollution. The government’s opponents could not even be swayed by the obvious security threat posed by criminals masquerading as transporters and misery inflicted on families through frequent ‘achaba’ accidents..
Interestingly, as the ‘achaba’ operators lamented the ban, Governor Bala Mohammed was perfecting his plan B, bearing in mind, that the banning of motorcycles in the state was one decision taken with great pain. His previous roles as top civil servant, senator and minister, had provided Bala Mohammed first-hand opportunities to appreciate the implications of youth unemployment, with the state saddled with 1.3 million unemployed youth, a time bomb by any standards.Thus, to ameliorate the suffering caused by the ban of “achaba”, the governor Bala Mohammed committed N500 million to the purchase of tricycles or ‘Keke NAPEP’ and cars. There is the added vision that such an empowerment project would considerably cushion the adverse effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on transportation in the state.   
Keeping faith with the administration’s promise, 1000 units of Keke NAPEP have been procured. The first batch of 345 units have been distributed in Bauchi, the state capital. The occasion was a showpiece of responsive government, a connection between the state government and the youth with the latter unable to conceal their excitement, at their new fortune. Addressing the beneficiaries, Bala Mohammed reiterated government’s hope that the tricycles, under a hire purchase arrangement, would ameliorate the sufferings of former ‘achaba’ riders. 
The governor’s words rang out with prophetic vigour and the commanding tone of a war general, very well accustomed to his charge. But is fighting unemployment not the moral equivalent of a war? “To provide income-generating ventures for our people and ameliorate the difficulty in transportation, we are providing 1,000 units of Keke NAPEP”, he said, adding,… “it will be a continuous programme, like a revolving scheme to enable others to benefit from the scheme”.

For the project, the state government had deposited N250 million for the purchase of Keke NAPEP, with another N250 million deposited in a microfinance bank for the purchase of Sharon and Vectra vehicles to ease transportation in the state.  
Among the several multiplier effects of the programme, it is expected that the availability of the tricycles will prune down transportation costs in the state while after sales maintenance and service will lead to an explosion of jobs for mechanics, auto parts dealers and other service providers, food vendors and sundry artisans. What is more, the predictable improvement in the purchasing power of people in the Keke NAPEP value chain will have a trickle-down effect in other areas with salutary implications for both the GDP and IGR of the state.It is obvious that Bala Mohammed, in keeping with the pledge he made at his inauguration about a year ago, is keeping faith with his declaration to create employment opportunities for the teeming youth of the state. And if his achievements in the areas of empowerment are anything to go by, it will not be wrong to say that he is one of the governors in Nigeria implementing the Sustainable Development Goals.
Ironically, Senator Isa Misau had cited the ban on achaba as one of his reasons for defecting back to the APC, a party he left for the PDP in 2018 as he groped for a haven after losing the ticket of the former. The beneficiaries do not share his position. Two of the beneficiaries, Umar Samaila Sanda and Sani Baban-Kawu, said that the initial destabilization posed by the ban was promptly compensated for by the provision of the tricycles, on an interest-free basis. Bana-Kawu adds that their economic status had improved due to enhanced income from the tricycles.   
What is left is for the state government, in line with the United Nations advice that realising the SDGs can only be achieved with strong global partnerships and cooperation, to embrace inclusive partnerships, at the global, regional, national and local levels, built upon principles and values, and upon a shared vision and shared goals placing, as it is faithfully doing, people at the centre.
Dabup writes from Bauchi

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