Residents of Borno State have been thrown into widespread confusion following the commissioning of 3,000 electric motorcycles by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during his official visit to Maiduguri on December 20–21, 2025, despite a long-standing statewide ban on the use of motorcycles imposed on security grounds. The development has sparked intense public debate, with many citizens struggling to reconcile the government’s security policy with its latest transport intervention.
The electric motorcycles, alongside 500 tricycles, 100 cars and 20 buses, were procured by the administration of Governor Babagana Umara Zulum as part of efforts to improve mobility, reduce transport costs and support post-insurgency recovery across the state. During the commissioning, President Tinubu commended Governor Zulum for what he described as visionary and people-centred leadership, noting that the initiative aligns with the federal government’s Renewed Hope agenda and would help ease the daily transportation burden on residents, particularly low-income earners and rural dwellers. The bikes are reportedly designed to offer subsidised fares, with figures such as ₦50 per trip within Maiduguri mentioned as part of the plan to make transportation more affordable.
However, the excitement surrounding the project has been overshadowed by serious questions about its practicality and legality under existing security regulations. The Borno State Police Command has repeatedly reaffirmed the ban on motorcycles, including electric bikes, citing their past use by insurgents, kidnappers and other criminal elements. The ban, which has been in force for years and restated as recently as July 2024, prohibits the operation of both petrol-powered and electric motorcycles across the state, with offenders facing arrest and fuel stations warned against servicing riders.
Many residents say they expected that such a high-profile commissioning by the President would be accompanied by a clear announcement lifting or modifying the ban, but no such clarification was made. Ordinary citizens are now left wondering whether the newly commissioned electric bikes are meant for general public use, restricted government operations, controlled commercial schemes, or pilot programmes under heavy security supervision. For residents like Ibrahim Hassan of Polo area in Maiduguri, the situation appears contradictory, as people fear benefiting from the initiative could expose them to arrest or harassment by security agencies enforcing the ban.
The silence from state authorities on how the electric motorcycles will be deployed has only deepened the uncertainty. While some believe the bikes may be intended for limited use within monitored routes or for government-approved operators, others worry that the lack of transparency could turn a well-intentioned development project into another source of tension between citizens and security agencies.
This episode highlights the delicate balance Borno State continues to navigate between security imperatives and development goals in a post-insurgency environment. While significant progress has been made in restoring stability, the scars of conflict remain, and policies introduced to protect lives often clash with efforts to rebuild livelihoods. As public pressure mounts, residents are calling on the Borno State Government and security authorities to issue an immediate and unambiguous statement clarifying the status of the motorcycle ban and how the electric bikes fit into existing laws.
Until such clarification is provided, the commissioning of 3,000 electric motorcycles stands as a powerful symbol of policy contradiction in Borno State, leaving citizens hopeful for improved mobility but uncertain about whether they are legally allowed to enjoy it.
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