The new Enugu transport reform aims for a world-class city, but many fear it prioritizes shiny buses over human lives.

Governor Peter Mbah has a big dream for Enugu: a city that looks like a global hub. To get there, the state is pulling the brakes on "yellow buses" and "Keke Napeps" across five major highways. 

The Commissioner for Transport, Obi Ozor, says these corridors including the busy Agbani Road and Okpara Avenue are now reserved for a new Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system.

On paper, it sounds great. The new BRT buses come with air conditioning, WiFi, and padded seats. But on the streets, the mood is heavy. These roads aren't just transit lines; they are the lifelines for thousands of drivers and the millions of passengers they carry every day.

The government’s logic is simple: tricycles don't belong on high-speed roads. But are the yellow buses also inclusive? For the average Enugu resident, the question is about survival. If the BRT fares become too expensive, what happens to the common man? Why can’t the old and the new compete to keep prices fair?

True development, as defined by the UN, isn't about fancy paint; it’s about dignity, health, and lifting people out of poverty.

Perhaps the most worrying part of this reform is the fate of the Keke riders. Many of these men are educated graduates who turned to driving because there were no office jobs. They created their own employment, supported families, and kept the local economy moving.

Taking away their routes without a solid safety net is a gamble. In a country where insecurity is already a major headache, stripping young men of their honest livelihoods is risky. If they can't drive and they can't farm because of Fulani herdsmen crisis, where do they go?

The state government says it isn't trying to take away jobs. They’ve invited transport unions to submit "financial models" to participate in the new system. But for a Keke driver with no capital, this sounds like a tall mountain to climb.

Trust is also a major issue. Many haven't forgotten the shops demolished at Ogbete, Garriki, Abakpa and Nsukka markets to make way for the bus terminals. Nearly two years later, many traders claim they haven't seen a kobo in compensation.

This trend isn't unique to Enugu, but it hits harder when you look at the South-East as a whole. Igbo businesses are already facing massive demolitions in places like Lagos. If their home governments also squeeze them out in the name of "modernization," where is the "homegrown" support?

Development should be a bridge that carries everyone across, not a wall that shuts the poor out. As Enugu moves toward this new vision, the focus must remain on the people. A city is only as modern as its most vulnerable citizen is comfortable.

What is your opinion about the current discussion? What do you think the Government should do differently? Your comments can help create a broaden view for better Government decision. So place your comment below.