konga Ad Campaign konga Ad Campaign konga Ad Campaign
ADVERTISEMENT
  • The Membership Club
  • #EndSARS Dashboard
  • PT Hausa
  • About Us
  • Advert Rates
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
Wednesday, June 29, 2022
Premium Times Nigeria
  • Home
  • Gender
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Opinion
  • Health
    • News Reports
    • Special Reports and Investigations
      • Health Specials
    • Features and Interviews
    • Multimedia
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Special Reports/Investigations
    • Features and Interviews
    • Multimedia
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects
    • #EndSARS Dashboard
    • Parliament Watch
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • AGAHRIN
  • #PandoraPapers
  • AUN-PT Data Hub
  • Home
  • Gender
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Opinion
  • Health
    • News Reports
    • Special Reports and Investigations
      • Health Specials
    • Features and Interviews
    • Multimedia
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Special Reports/Investigations
    • Features and Interviews
    • Multimedia
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects
    • #EndSARS Dashboard
    • Parliament Watch
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • AGAHRIN
  • #PandoraPapers
  • AUN-PT Data Hub
Premium Times Nigeria
BUA Group Ad BUA Group Ad BUA Group Ad
ADVERTISEMENT
One of numerous checkpoints mounted by the Nigerian police used to illustrate the story. [Photo credit: Information Nigeria]

One of numerous checkpoints mounted by the Nigerian police used to illustrate the story. [Photo credit: Information Nigeria]

Nigerian lawmakers lament ‘numerous’ checkpoints on federal highways

byQueenEsther Iroanusi
December 5, 2019
2 min read

Some senators on Thursday complained about the numerous highways on federal roads in Nigeria.

This, they said, has not only caused hardship for commuters on the roads but serves as a means of extortion by the security personnel.

This deliberation was borne from a point of order by Enugu senator, Chukwuka Utazi.

Leading the debate, Mr Utazi said the entire security strength of the country has been stretched and as a consequence, insurgency, religious extremism, cattle rustling, kidnapping and armed robbery have put untold pressure on the national security architecture.

He noted that as a result of growing insecurity, there was a need to input road checkpoints on almost all federal highways in all the geo-political zones of Nigeria with predictable and unpredictable consequences.

While roadblocks are necessary, the Senate will not ignore Nigerians who complain that government policies made to protect them have turned into oppressive conduct by those concerned and which the Inspector General of Police may not be aware of, he said.

He said the Lagos-Onitsha road has about 60 checkpoints within short intervals – proof of abuse of road checkpoints.

Listing some checkpoints, Mr Utazi said there are about 23 checkpoints on Lagos-Ore road and over 36 checkpoints on the Ore-Benin highway.

In her contribution, Anambra senator, Lilian Ekwunife, narrated her recent experience on a trip to the South East.

She said there are about 10 checkpoints between Enugu and Lokoja, 10 others between Awka and Onitsha and about 30 checkpoints between Onitsha and Owerri.

The numerous checkpoints have not abated the rate of crimes and kidnappings that happen every day close to the checkpoints, she said.

“I wonder what they are checking. The hardship they are causing is immeasurable. It is not just collapsing the businesses; it is wasting our time.”

She called on security chiefs to remove checkpoints because “there are no benefits but hardships from the checkpoints.”

On his part, the Minority Leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe, said in addition to the trauma suffered by commuters, they also fall victims of extortion.

He complained that police personnel now stop and search peoples’ phones and arrest passengers when they find a bank transaction on the phone.

He emphasised the need to notify the security chiefs of the kind of extortion going on on the federal highways.

On his part, Sam Egwu said the presence of numerous checkpoints is not a nuisance and they should not be removed.

“I don’t believe their presence is a nuisance… All we need to do is ask the police to be professional in discharging their duties,” he said.

The Senate thereafter appealed to the IGP to as a matter of urgency, review the number of checkpoints on Lagos-Onitsha federal highway (and other roads) with a view to scaling them down not only as a result of the coming yuletide season but at all times from now going forward.

The Senate also asked the IGP to direct his men on the road checkpoints to wear human faces while attending to the moderate public and eschew all sorts of extortion as is commonly alleged while carrying out stop-and-search.

The lawmakers appealed to the Federal Emergency Road Maintenance Agency in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing to as a matter of urgency, give face-lifts to all federal highways in order to ease free flow of traffic especially during the yuletide season.

  • WhatsApp
  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Print
  • Telegram
  • More
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Pocket


CITIZEN-FM AD


Support PREMIUM TIMES' journalism of integrity and credibility

Good journalism costs a lot of money. Yet only good journalism can ensure the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy, and a transparent government.

For continued free access to the best investigative journalism in the country we ask you to consider making a modest support to this noble endeavour.

By contributing to PREMIUM TIMES, you are helping to sustain a journalism of relevance and ensuring it remains free and available to all.

Donate


TEXT AD: Call Willie - +2348098788999






PT Mag Campaign AD

Previous Post

House of Reps passes Nigeria’s 2020 budget

Next Post

Obasanjo’s former aide, Titilayo Ajanaku, dies at 73

QueenEsther Iroanusi

QueenEsther Iroanusi

QueenEsther Iroanusi covers the National Assembly for PREMIUM TIMES. She is a 2018 Female Reporters Leadership Programme fellow of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism. She has a degree in French. She can be reached on Twitter @QueenExtha

More News

Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu

Alleged Organ Harvesting: Senate mum on Ekweremadu’s ordeal

June 29, 2022
Plenary session of the House or Representatives [PHOTO CREDIT: @HouseNGR]

Russian Invasion: Nigerian lawmakers oppose MDCN’s policy on Ukrainian degrees

June 28, 2022
President Muhammadu Buhari receives in audience Group of Senators led by Senate Chief Whip, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu in State House on 28th June 2022 [PHOTO CREDIT: @Buharisallau1]

Primaries: Buhari meets aggrieved APC senators, says justice will prevail

June 28, 2022
Former Nigerian president, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan

Why I didn’t implement 2014 National Conference report – Jonathan

June 28, 2022
Buhari appoints two Deputy Commissioners for NAICOM

NAICOM revokes licences of Standard Alliance, Niger Insurance

June 28, 2022
Monkeypox

Monkeypox: NCDC decries misinformation about infection in Nigeria

June 28, 2022
Next Post
Titilayo Ajanaku

Obasanjo's former aide, Titilayo Ajanaku, dies at 73

Nigerian comedian, Emmanuella Samuel. [Photo credit: informationng.com]

Emmanuela, 'Aiyetoro', others top 2019 most-watched YouTube videos in Nigeria

Read All Comment

Search

AUN-PT Ad




Access Bank Ad







Subscribe to News via Email

Enter your email address and receive notifications of news by email.

Join 1,897,545 other subscribers.

Advertisement




netherland biz school Advert



ADVERTISEMENT

Our Digital Network

  • PT Hausa
  • Election Centre
  • Human Trafficking Investigation
  • Centre for Investigative Journalism
  • National Conference
  • Press Attack Tracker
  • PT Academy
  • Dubawa
  • LeaksNG
  • Campus Reporter

Resources

  • Oil & Gas Facts
  • List of Universities in Nigeria
  • LIST: Federal Unity Colleges in Nigeria
  • NYSC Orientation Camps in Nigeria
  • Nigeria’s Federal/States’ Budgets since 2005
  • Malabu Scandal Thread
  • World Cup 2018
  • Panama Papers Game
  • Our Digital Network
  • About Us
  • Resources
  • Projects
  • Data & Infographics
  • DONATE

All content is Copyrighted © 2020 The Premium Times, Nigeria

No Result
View All Result
  • #PandoraPapers
  • Gender
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Health
    • COVID-19
    • News Reports
    • Investigations
    • Data and Infographics
    • Health Specials
    • Features
    • Events
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Research & Innovation
    • Data & Infographics
    • Special Reports/Investigations
    • Investigations
    • Interviews
    • Multimedia
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • #EndSARS Dashboard
  • Projects
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • Parliament Watch
    • AGAHRIN
  • AUN-PT Data Hub
  • Opinion
  • The Membership Club
  • DONATE
  • About Us
  • Advert Rates
  • PT Hausa
  • Dubawa NG
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Digital Store

All content is Copyrighted © 2020 The Premium Times, Nigeria

Our website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.