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Heavy Duty Haulage and Transporters Welfare Association of Nigeria has charged the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, to deploy 20 police personnel to enforce a Federal High Court order directing the removal of roadblocks and other obstructions mounted on federal highways for the collection of taxes, levies and other revenues.
The request was contained in a letter signed by its National Chairman, Oraka Nnaemeka, and Secretary-General, Ayobami Makinde, dated 26 August 2026, and addressed to the Inspector-General of Police at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.
The request followed a judgment delivered by the Federal High Court sitting in Abakaliki on 13 July 2026, in Suit No. FHC/AI/MISC/9/2026, involving Ayobami Makinde, Musamad Nigeria Limited and the Incorporated Trustees of Heavy Duty Haulage and Transporters Welfare Association, Bwari, Abuja, against the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army and the Joint Revenue Board.
In the judgment, Justice Hillary I. O. Oshomah granted an order of mandamus compelling the Nigeria Police Force and the Joint Revenue Board to supervise or ensure the immediate removal and dismantling of roadblocks, blockades, checkpoints, barriers and other obstructions mounted on federal highways, expressways and roads for the purpose of collecting taxes, levies, dues or other forms of revenue.
The court order further directed the Nigeria Police Force to arrest, detain, investigate and prosecute persons, groups, bodies or authorities found to have erected or operated such roadblocks or obstructions for revenue collection where such acts contravene the Taxes and Levies (Approved List for Collection) Act, Cap. T2, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
However, the court document also stated that the application was refused and dismissed as it related to the second respondent of the first set of respondents.
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Nnaemeka said the deployment of 20 personnel would assist in enforcing the judgment and combating what it described as economic sabotage and illegal and multiple taxation on federal highways.
According to him, the activities of hoodlums and unauthorised revenue collectors on highways had imposed additional costs on truckers and other businesses involved in the movement of goods.
He appealed to the police authorities to act on the court order, arguing that enforcement would provide relief to traders, farmers, transport operators and other Nigerians who rely on the country’s road network.
He added that tackling illegal highway collections is also important to the wider economy because additional charges imposed on the transportation of goods can affect the cost of commodities in markets.
He also said enforcement would help protect federal road infrastructure and reduce activities it considers economic sabotage along major highways.
The court order supplied by the association bears the date 13 July 2026, and identifies the case as Amb. Ayobami Makinde & 2 Ors v. Nigeria Police Force & Anor and Joint Revenue Board — FHC/AI/MISC/9/2026.
