By Moma Sandrine
The governor of the North West region, Adolph Lele Lafrique on Friday, June 21 2019, issued a communiqué that temporarily lifts the suspension of motorbikes in Batibo, Widikum, Bafut and Bello Sub-divisions. He however stated in the statement that these motorbikes are permitted to circulate in these areas from 6am to 6pm.
This decision to lift the suspension of the circulation of motorbikes in these sub-divisions is coming more than a year after the suspension was placed. On March 6, 2018, the governor suspended the circulation of motorbikes in Batibo and Widikum Sub-divisions in Momo Division. On April 23, 2018, the governor issued another communiqué suspending the circulation of motorbikes within Bafut Sub-division in Mezam division. The following month, on May 11, 2018, the governor passed a gubernatorial order that prohibited the circulation of motorbikes within Belo Sub-division in Boyo division. Since then, inhabitants of these areas have complained about the difficulties they face going about their daily activities.
“Even buying food from the market and taking it home is a nightmare. We don’t have taxis here and these vehicles that transport people out of the village do not accept to go into the quarters and even if they do, they charge a price that one cannot even afford to pay”, a residual of Batibo had told The SUN.
The order that temporarily lifts the suspension of the circulation of motorbikes in these areas comes barely few days after the governor had lifted the curfew which he placed, restricting the movement of people in the North West Region from 9pm to 6am.