A former senior official of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Alhaji Kabiru Yusuf-Nadabo, has expressed serious concern over the growing presence and reckless operations of commercial tricycles, popularly known as Keke Napep, on major highways across Kano State.
Yusuf-Nadabo observed that tricycle operators, who were originally restricted to inner-city routes, have increasingly extended their activities to high-speed highways, in clear violation of existing traffic regulations.
He recalled that following the 2013 ban on commercial motorcycles by the state government, tricycles were introduced as a safer alternative, with strict operational boundaries agreed upon by stakeholders.
“Part of that agreement clearly limited tricycle movement to specific urban routes. They were never meant to operate on highways alongside fast-moving vehicles,” he said.
The retired Assistant Corps Marshal called on relevant agencies, including the FRSC, the Nigeria Police Force and the Kano Road Traffic Agency, to strengthen collaboration in addressing the growing safety threat.
He also stressed that while security often receives priority attention, road safety remains equally critical and should not be neglected.
According to him, the state government should urgently convene a stakeholders’ meeting to review, reaffirm and enforce the operational boundaries for tricycles in order to prevent avoidable accidents and loss of lives.
“Kano is strategically positioned with eight major highways connecting the city to different parts of the country, each with defined operational limits. Allowing tricycles to ply these routes exposes commuters to grave danger,” he said.
He pointed out that the situation has become particularly worrisome along corridors such as the Wudil-Gaya axis, where tricycles now operate far beyond approved zones.
Yusuf-Nadabo recommended the involvement of traditional institutions, transport unions, security agencies, and the media in joint consultations aimed at improving traffic management and compliance.
He added that the rising number of crashes involving tricycles on highways underscores the urgent need for decisive intervention to restore order and ensure safer road use across the state.