By: Mohammed Hassen Mohamed (Xareed)
Jigjiga, the vibrant capital of Ethiopia’s Somali Regional State, has recently unveiled a series of wide, freshly paved corridor roads designed to modernize the city and improve traffic flow. These upgrades were welcomed as a sign of growth and progress. Yet soon after completion, city officials announced that the city’s most relied-upon form of public transportation—the three-wheeled tuk-tuk—would no longer be allowed on these main streets. The sudden move has triggered widespread concern, revealing serious gaps in urban transport planning.
Tuk-Tuks: An Essential Urban Lifeline
For years, tuk-tuks have been the backbone of everyday mobility in Jigjiga. Affordable, quick to hire, and able to navigate narrow streets, they provide livelihoods for thousands of drivers and convenient door-to-door service for residents. In a city where formal bus services are limited and private car ownership remains out of reach for many, tuk-tuks are not just a convenience—they are a necessity.
Abrupt Restrictions Without a Clear Plan
Officials say the decision to remove tuk-tuks from the newly completed corridor roads is meant to improve safety and protect the investment in the new infrastructure. However, no comprehensive plan has been introduced to manage which types of vehicles may use these corridors. Nor is there a clear tactical strategy for guiding tuk-tuk drivers toward designated alternative routes or for integrating other forms of public transport to fill the gap.
Residents’ Frustration
The response from the public has been swift and vocal. Many residents complain that forcing tuk-tuks into smaller alleys has created new congestion in those areas while making access to markets, hospitals, and workplaces more difficult. Commuters now face longer walks and higher costs, while drivers worry about losing their primary source of income. “It feels like our most dependable transport option has been sidelined overnight,” one frustrated shopkeeper noted.
Absence of Alternatives
Despite the restrictions, there has been no introduction of new buses or minibuses to replace the displaced service. Without an affordable and reliable alternative, daily life for thousands of Jigjiga residents has become more complicated. For many, this is not simply an inconvenience but a threat to economic stability and social mobility.
Toward Practical Solutions
Urban planners and transportation specialists recommend a more balanced approach:
- Designated Corridors and Time Windows – Permit tuk-tuks during off-peak hours or in specific lanes to maintain accessibility while managing congestion.
- Phased Introduction of Minibuses – Gradually deploy affordable minibuses to provide a smooth transition for commuters.
- Stakeholder Consultation – Engage drivers, residents, and business owners in decision-making to ensure policies meet real community needs.
- Driver Training and Traffic Management – Address safety issues through education and enforcement rather than outright bans.
Conclusion
The newly completed corridor roads are a welcome symbol of Jigjiga’s aspirations for modern infrastructure and economic growth. Yet true progress demands more than asphalt and concrete—it requires inclusive, forward-thinking governance. The sudden tuk-tuk ban illustrates the risks of implementing development projects without a parallel plan for sustaining the city’s existing social and economic rhythms.
A successful urban transport policy must balance safety and efficiency with affordability and accessibility. By abruptly restricting the city’s most relied-upon mode of public transportation, officials risk alienating residents, undermining small businesses, and creating new traffic problems in the very alleys they hope to protect.
For Jigjiga to realize the full promise of its modern corridors, city leaders must act quickly: open dialogue with residents, provide affordable alternative buses or minibuses, and develop a tactical administrative framework that integrates tuk-tuks into the broader transport network. Without such measures, the corridor roads—meant to herald a new era of connectivity—could instead stand as a cautionary tale of progress that overlooked the people it was meant to serve.
Mohamed Hassan Mohamed (Xareed), an MBA graduate of distinguished merit, is a seasoned academic and lecturer whose expertise spans scientific economic management, business information systems, human development, and a range of interdisciplinary domains. His intellectual contributions—marked by a fusion of advanced scholarly inquiry and strategic analysis—primarily explore the intricate dynamics of geoeconomic competition and regional conflict across the Horn of Africa. He can be reached at: Xareedmo45@gmail.com
Editor’s Note : Views in the article do not necessarily reflect the views of borkena.com
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