No More Roadblocks In Nigeria- Police IG Orders

In order to ensure smooth running of businesses across the country as well as the safety of road users in Nigeria, the inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris has ordered the immediate removal of all roadblocks on major highways across the country.

Idris who has also warned that no police department or patrol unit should mount any roadblock without a straight permit from him, said that the move is necessary in order to make trading easier for all Nigerians.

According to Vanguard, roadblocks should be removed from highways such as Lagos-Ibadan, Shagamu-Benin, Benin-Onitsha, Okene-Abuja, Kaduna-Kano, Katsina-Kano, Otukpo-Enugu and Enugu-Port Harcourt expressways immediately.

Read the statement below:

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.