MAITAMA DAN MAMMAN

Time, our time is going through rapid changes. Technology is evolving on a daily basis, along with it, is how humans live. Nigerians cannot and should not be different.
At the peak of COVID pandemic, human frailty and vulnerability was naked for even the blind to see. At that time people were confined to their houses, movements were restricted. With each passing day family’s food and essential supplies were thinning away.
Which became additional source of concern and distress.
I recall how governments and charities were supporting the vulnerable with food and other essential supplies. In Europe, the US, Middle Eastern countries and several other areas, food was delivered to families who were in dire need of support. Governments and charities had to do the needful because several families were in need of help and support.
Indeed, in neighbouring West African countries, authorities delivered support appropriately to families. How was this possible? Governments have functional database, clearly spelling out street names, with households clearly numbered.
In this era of e-commerce, online trading and e-economy, towns and cities that have street names, with their houses numbered, are a dispatch’s riders delight. Citizens are now into buying and selling goods and services using social media channels. With virtually a good number of both urban and rural dwellers using mobile phones, people use various communication channels to sell and buy whatever is on offer.
Both the buyer and seller don’t necessarily have to know each other. Goods and services are displayed in various e-commerce outlets. And the buyer receives their goods through an intermediary; a motorcyclist or cab driver.
Unfortunately, several cities and towns in Nigeria don’t have street names and houses are not numbered. In addition to stagnating and obstructing e-commerce, this state of affairs should be a source of concern to local government administrations. It should be worrisome if urgent emergency support is needed in an area, but the support team can not identify the area. What is more it is not cost effective for a dispatch rider to fail to identify where to deliver goods that have been sent from distant lands.
In recent weeks, I have been visiting Kano and one of the beautiful things about this ancient city is that all houses have identities. Even the dense winding labyrinth that Kano city is, has not prevented local councils from naming each narrow street and assigning numbers to the houses.
Beyond having street names and house numbers, a dedicated database should also identify properties that are housing families and those that have several tenants. This way governments can plan cities management. During emergencies, support will be delivered promptly. And in this era of e-commerce and online trading, goods and services will be delivered appropriately.
Maybe now is the time for Nasarawa State Government to step up efforts at ensuring cities and major towns in the state have clearly demarcated street names with houses identifiable by their numbers.
Nasarawa State Commissioner for Local Governments and Chieftaincy Affairs, Honourable Aminu Muazu Maifata, as the coordinator and overseer over local government administration in the state should use his good offices to encourage local councils in the state to see this as a priority project.