CHIMA AZUBUIKE investigates the complexities of the situation, where a security measure aimed at curbing insurgency has unintended economic and social consequences.
The 6pm city gate closure in Maiduguri, imposed by the military alongside Borno State Government to curb insurgency, has had an unintended consequence; a boom in hotel business in neighbouring Yobe State.
Our correspondent embarked on an investigation to uncover the economic and social impact of this decision.
For over a decade, Maiduguri has been under siege due to insecurity caused by Boko Haram. To mitigate this, the state government has taken measures to secure lives and property, including the 6pm gate closure. However, this decision has resulted in travellers being stranded at the entrance, forced to seek alternative accommodations in Yobe State.
A visit to Damaturu park where buses and taxis converge revealed that many travellers opt to rest in Damaturu, Yobe State capital for the night, rather than risking being stranded at the city gate. Danladi Umar, a 40-year-old driver, told our correspondent, “Remaining at the park is the best alternative. I’m not willing to expose my passengers to risks at the gate, considering the cold and other challenges.”
Findings show at the park that a mat and space on the ground for a night costs N400, non-negotiable, with a mosquito net provided. However, the cold remains a challenge, especially for those battling cold-related ailments.
Umar added, “As a driver who has plied the Damaturu/Maiduguri expressway for over a decade, I know that once the gate is closed, there’s no amount of pleading that will get them to open it until the next day.”
The driver disclosed that although he prefers not to continue his trip anytime he is behind schedule saying, “Although some of us (drivers), have alleged that if you are in their good book or tip well they (soldiers) may likely open for some of the ones at the gate by nightfall, but I’m yet to experience that because I rarely move after checking my time. Some of my colleagues claim just a minute could also get you locked out.”
Our correspondent observed that Hayas Hotel, located near the United Bank of Africa, and Police station was fully booked by 8 pm on December 15. Alternative options, such as Zango Hotel, were also filled to capacity, with some travellers forced to seek other accommodations.
A visit to Maina Hotel, located in the state’s low-cost area, revealed a large expanse of land with old structures. The receptionist was quick to provide a list of available rooms and their rates, with the least expensive option costing around N7,000.
Gamdo gate in Kaga Local Government Area of Borno, however, opens by 7am. To meet up most vehicles start heading out from 6:30am in order to meet up as early as possible especially for those with passengers who were caught in the web of gate closure despite their various appointments.
A popular hotel manager in the state, who identified himself as Abass expressed mixed feelings about the situation. “We supplicate for Allah to end the insurgency in Borno State, including Yobe, which they attack sporadically. Although the gate closure has improved our business, especially in hospitality, we’re not oblivious to their losses.”
The hospitality entrepreneur urged government to prioritise sanitising the business to ensure that criminals don’t penetrate, “Government can do more to support businesses grow by so doing our taxes will improve and we will improve in the kind of comfort we provide these travellers,” Abass added.
Also, an applicant at a Non-Governmental Organisation in Maiduguri, Danladi Muhammad, explained to our correspondent that he left Bauchi as soon as he got alert about his early morning interview.
“Coming from Bauchi. I’m going for an interview by morning I thought we will arrive earlier to drive into Maiduguri but the bus didn’t move early as there wasnt passengers which resulted into arriving late into Damaturu. I just hope we leave here early enough so that I can go for my interview,” he added.
Muhammad continued saying, “I have long been jobless I can’t afford to waste this chance. If I knew earlier about the interview I should have departed Bauchi earlier, when I got the text about the interview I thought I will get into Maiduguri to be able to prepare well. I just wish the driver will move as fast as possible. If there is time I will go freshen up if not after the interview I will go freshen up.”
Borno State Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Professor Usman Tar, explained that the gate closure is a security measure adding “The gate is regulated for security reasons. We cannot stand down the curfew and allow insurgents to penetrate, undermine, and threaten our security posts at night. Yobe is different from Borno. Our risk factors are higher in volume and ferocity. We are not comparing ourselves with Yobe, are we negotiating our security policy. We are the ones on the ground. He who wears the shoe feels where the shoe pinches.”
Tar added, “We cannot stand down the curfew and allow insurgents to penetrate, undermine, threaten our security posts at night. There shall be no development without security according to Robert McMamara. Borno and Yobe are one and inseparable.”
Tar acknowledged the economic benefits to Yobe State, saying, “Since time immemorial, Yobe has been a transit point for Borno travellers. If, because of our curfew, our people are constrained to sleepover at Damaturu, and it prospers Yobe’s economy, that’s very okay.”
However, the investigation also revealed a darker side to the investigation. Zango Hotel, one of the establishments benefitting from the gate closure, is allegedly a hub for drug proliferation and prostitution located around Gujiba road. When our correspondent arrived the hotel it had been fully occupied. Many had booked ahead of overnight with some others in the queue for when it will get to their turn.
When contacted, Yobe State Governor’s Director General of Press and Media Affairs, Mamman Muhammad, denied knowledge of these activities directing our correspondent to security agencies.
He said, “I’m not in a better position to know the activities there. The law enforcement agencies are the ones that are better placed to know.”
The Yobe State Police Command acknowledged awareness of the issue, blaming the military’s presence in the state for encouraging the trade. Police Public Relations Officer SP Dungus Abdulkarim, lamented, “Civilians also come in there; in fact, they are the ones who supply the drugs. We have been raiding that place; there’s no month we don’t raid.”
He continued saying, “Sometimes, we do joint patrol with military personnel we used to go out together. You can’t tell the military to pack with their men in that place because you can’t provide another place for them to stay. Not only the military you will see other security personnel in that place.
“You see women coming from various parts of the state to come to have affairs with the personnel for one or two kobo. We have tried our best even last week, when we had our end of month press conference the Commissioner of Police brought it up and asked the Area commanders to continue raiding there until there are no criminals but the problem we are having is mostly from the military who are based in the place.”
Abdulkarim attributed the problem to the patronage by uniformed personnel, saying, “You know it’s part of the challenges that come from insecurity. When you allow military personnel to stay inside the town, there are a lot of issues. We’ve learned that some of the drugs are transported by uniformed personnel. We have been arresting a lot of alongside National Drug Enforcement Agency but for us to have the peace we must do away with this the military must go back to the barrack.”
Abdulkarim added, “However, it’s not possible for now until the insurgency is over. They can’t do without drugs, if you ask them to go to war they need to be high. So since they are in town we can’t fight drugs circulation we can only reduce it.
“We have even reduced it; before it was worst than this but Zango became difficult because they have residence they are some of the zinc residences nearby. We are managing it; the command is aware and we have been raiding and many peddlers have been arrested.”
