Nigeria police chief orders roadblocks removal

ABUJA – THE Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris has ordered his men to immediately remove all roadblocks on highways nationwide.

But the police boss 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, 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 roadblocks without express permission of the Inspector General of Police.

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.

Credit: Vanguard Nigeria