THE government of Kano State has become the second in northern Nigeria to introduce women-only buses in line with strict Islamic law, officials said on Wednesday. Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, who signed the Islamic code known as the Sharia into law last month, on Tuesday received 10 buses which will be for use of women and children only, his office said. “The government acquired the buses for the exclusive use of women and children in compliance with the Sharia which discourages mingling of men and women,” Kwankwaso said at a public ceremony. The move is mainly symbolic as Kano is a state with a population put by officials at over five million and most taxis and buses will remain mixed sex for some time to come. To date, nine northern Nigerian states have either introduced or declared plans to introduce the Sharia. So far, only one other state, Zamfara, has banned women from travelling in public transport with men or riding on motorbikes as this is seen as improper. – AFP
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