IGP orders removing of road blocks nationwide

                     Ibrahim Idris

The Nigerian Police comand has ordered the immediate removal of all roadblocks on highways nationwide.

The Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris who gave the order said personnel who involve in vehicular patrol on highways and major roads across the country must wear their uniforms, a bold name tag, and service number.

The routes which the IGP orders dismantling include, Lagos-Ibadan, Shagamu-Benin, Benin-Onitsha, Okene-Abuja, Kaduna-Kano, Katsina – Kano, Otukpo – Enugu, Enugu – Port Harcourt Express Ways.

A statement signed Monday night in Abuja by Force Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood, late y, said the directives became necessary to enable ease of doing business in Nigeria, safeguard, and guarantee free passage of goods and travellers throughout the country.

According to him, no police department, section, squad or unit should mount road block without express permission of the Inspector General of Police.

The police boss added that police personnel who involve in vehicular patrol on highways and major roads across the country must wear their uniforms, a bold name tag, and service number.

He said Special X-Squad teams of the Force have been deployed throughout the country and they are under strict instructions to arrest, investigate and discipline any police personnel violating this directive.


Moshood, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) said the IGP also directed the Assistant Inspectors General of Police (AIGs) in charge of Zonal Commands, Commissioners of Police in charge of State Commands, Heads of Departments, to ensure that every patrol vehicle in their respective formation carries a conspicuous and legible inscription of patrol vehicle identification number, and dedicated emergency phone numbers for ease of identification and report of distress by members of the public.

The statement reads :”The Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim k. Idris NPM, mni, has ordered the dismantling of all roadblocks nationwide with immediate effect; particularly on the following routes, Lagos-Ibadan, Shagamu-Benin, Benin-Onitsha, Okene-Abuja, Kaduna-Kano, Katsina – Kano, Otukpo – Enugu, Enugu – Port Harcourt Express Ways.

The IGP has also directed the Special X-Squads to embark on removal of other forms of illegal blockage and obstructions on Highways and Roads, created by unlawful Revenue/Tax collectors, Road Transport Unions, Labour and Trade related unions inhibiting vehicular movement and smooth passage of passengers and goods, and other road users across the country.

For avoidance of doubt, the Taxes and Levies act, Laws of Federation of Nigeria 2004 section 2 (2) disallowed any person, including a Tax Authority from mounting a Road block in any part of the Federation for the purposes of collecting any Tax or Levy.

While monitoring and ensuring full compliance of this directive by all the personnel of the Nigeria Police Force, the Force hereby advised the relevant State Governments, Local Government Councils, Boards of States Internal Revenue service, and various Transport Unions, Labour and Traders Associations that it is against the law for any organization to create a blockage to restrict or restrain members of the public the free usage of Roads and Highways anywhere in the country,” the statement noted.