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Says situation oppressive, detrimental to residents, commuters
From Laide Raheem, Abeokuta
The Ogun State House of Assembly has called on police authorities to immediately reduce 52 police checkpoints along the Idiroko-Owode Road, decrying the situation as oppressive and detrimental to the socio-economic wellbeing of residents and commuters in the border communities.
The House made this call in a Resolution during a plenary session on Tuesday, following a motion moved by Honourable Bisi Oyedele otherwise known as Citiside, representing Ipokia/Idiroko State Constituency.
The Resolution was moved by the Majority Leader of the House, Yusuf Sherif, and seconded by the Minority Leader, Lukman Adeleye.
Earlier in his presentation, Oyedele had lamented that the proliferation of police checkpoints has subjected residents, motorists and traders to daily extortion, intimidation and unnecessary delays.
The lawmaker observed further that the number of checkpoints along the road between Idiroko and Owode had increased from about 20 to 52 within a few weeks.
Oyedele said, “A trip that should ordinarily last 20 minutes now takes almost two hours due to endless stoppages by security officers who often demand bribes from drivers and traders.
“Transporters are the most affected, paying up to ₦1,000 per stop, a situation that has led to losses, protests and even a temporary local transport strike recently witnessed along the route.
“The proliferation of checkpoints has crippled local businesses, increased transport fares and worsened the prices of goods and essential commodities in Ipokia Local Government and its environs. Perishable goods now get damaged in transit due to unnecessary delays, while traders are forced to factor illegal payments into the cost of their wares, making life increasingly difficult for ordinary citizens.”
The lawmaker, however, pointed out that some of the officers mounting the police road blocks operate under the guise of border patrol, without operation vehicles or clear identification, making it difficult to ascertain their legitimacy.
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He observed that the police units had relocated their operations to Ogun State after facing protests at the Seme Border axis of Lagos State.
He emphasized that the Motion was not in opposition to police presence or the need for security, but a call for sanity, fairness and respect for human dignity.
“We cannot continue to watch our people suffer in silence on a road that should serve as a symbol of trade, peace and prosperity. Enough is enough,” he stated.
While acknowledging that policing falls under the Exclusive Legislative List of the Federal Government, Oyedele stressed that “the Nigerian Constitution, under Section 14(2)(b), clearly defines the primary purpose of government as the security and welfare of the people”; the lawmaker insisted that “the current situation on the Idiroko–Owode Road negates that particular constitutional provision”.
He, however, called for urgent government intervention before the people would resort to self-help.
After extensive deliberation on the Motion which was co-sponsored by the Deputy Speaker of the House, Mrs Ajayi Bolanle Latifat; Lamidi Musefiu Olatunji; Adeleye Lukmon Olalekan; Wahab Haruna Abiodun; Tella Babatunde; Adeyanju Adegoke Olusesi and Owode Waliu Ifedolapo, the Speaker of House, Daisi Elemide, who presided over the plenary, condemned the excessive number and duplication of police checkpoints along the Idiroko–Owode Road, describing the conduct of some officers as an abuse of authority.
He consequently urged the Ogun State Commissioner of Police to immediately reduce the checkpoints to a reasonable number that would still guarantee security without inflicting hardship on innocent Nigerians.
While calling on Governor Dapo Abiodun to engage the State Police Command with a view to addressing the matter promptly, the Speaker further resolved that the Motion be transmitted as a petition to the President of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Inspector General of Police, and the National Security Adviser for investigation and necessary action at the federal level.
