Yuletide: House Calls for Disbandment of Multiple Checkpoints on Roads

Udora Orizu in Abuja

The House of Representatives has urged security agencies to remove their multiple checkpoints on the roads leading to and from Lagos and Abuja to the South-east region forthwith to facilitate the free flow of traffic, relieve the pains and hardship of the motorist and other road users traveling to and from the South-east region, especially during this festive period.

The House also mandated the Nigerian Police Force and related agencies to immediately disband all checkpoints at the Head Bridge, and the Federal Road Safety Commission to as well deploy men and materials for ensuring free flow of traffic between Asaba and Onitsha.

It further urged the security agencies to collaborate with one another in the discharge of their responsibilities and avoid dissipation of resources as exemplified by the multiple checkpoints on the roads especially those leading to and from the South-east region.

It directed the Federal Ministry of Works and Power and the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency to remove all abandoned makeshift roadblocks used as checkpoints and debris from the roads and highways to facilitate the free flow of traffic on these roads.

The Green Chamber called on the Federal Road Safety Corps to position ambulances at major intersections along the roads and highways especially during this festive season to provide first aid to accident victims and evacuate them to the hospitals.

The resolutions of the lawmakers were sequel to the adoption of a motion of urgent national importance sponsored by, Hon. Obinna Chidoka at the plenary yesterday.

Moving the motion, Chidoka noted that multiple checkpoints involving the Nigerian Police Force, the Nigerian Army and others have dotted the roads, particularly the roads leading to the South-east states from Lagos and Abuja with used tires, timber and metal barricades resulting in avoidable traffic buildup on the roads, especially during festive periods.

He lamented that the alarming number of checkpoints that numbered about 60 constitute themselves into tollgates extorting money from innocent motorists while the crimes they are meant to checkmate still go on without remedy.

He said: “These multiple makeshift checkpoints, coupled with the terrible condition of roads in question caused unnecessary traffic buildup on the roads with untold hardship on road users and creating room for criminals to perpetrate their nefarious activities. These checkpoints set up with used tires, timber and metal barricades are often left on the roads and highways, when not in use, thereby creating hazards for unsuspecting motorists especially at night thereby causing accidents, and in some cases, used by armed robbers who rob and terrorizes road users at odd hours.

“Having in mind that the Christmas and New Year holidays are ahead of us and movements on these roads will increase exponentially with citizens traveling to celebrate with their loved ones in their village. Alarmed that less than 10 days to Christmas the Asaba end of the Head Bridge is already blocked with checkpoints constituting terror and nuisance to motorist causing motorists who flew one hour to Asaba or drove five to six hours from Lagos and Abuja to spend upwards of 7 hours just to cross the Niger Bridge.”