Why Inspector General of Police ordered dismantling of all roadblocks

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, has said his order for the immediate dismantling of all roadblocks nationwide was necessary to enable ease of doing business in Nigeria.

He said it would as well safeguard and guarantee free passage of goods and travellers throughout the country.

According to a statement signed by Jimoh Moshood, the Force spokesman, IGP Idris said the routes specifically affected by his order are Lagos–Ibadan, Shagamu–Benin, Benin–Onitsha, Okene–Abuja, Kaduna–Kano, Katsina–Kano, Otukpo–Enugu, and Enugu–Port Harcourt expressways.

The police boss also warned personnel on patrol against the improper identification of their vehicles, especially those serving along the border routes in the country.

He further asked heads of various zones and commands across the country to ensure the directive was strictly adhered to by personnel in their formation.

The statement reads in part: “No police department, section, squad or unit should mount roadblock without the express permission of the Inspector General of Police.

“Consequently, Assistant Inspectors General of Police in charge of zonal commands, Commissioners of Police in charge of state commands, heads of departments, must 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 Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Border patrol of the Force is specifically directed to ensure compliance with this directive along the Border routes in the country except for the few approved points by the Federal Government.”

The IGP also ordered police personnel who are involved in vehicular patrol on highways and major roads across the country to put on their uniforms, a bold name tag and service number.

He stated that the Special X-Squad teams of the Force have been deployed throughout the country to arrest, investigate and discipline any police personnel violating the directives.