Former Labour Party presidential candidate and ex-Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, has called on Nigerian security agencies to rethink the placement and management of checkpoints, blaming them for severe traffic congestion that marred travel during the recent festive season.
In a statement shared on his official X account on Sunday, Obi described encountering "appalling levels of traffic congestion" while traveling major roads nationwide over the Christmas and New Year period.
He noted that in some cases, the gridlock was so intense that long-distance travelers had to abandon their journeys entirely, wasting hours stuck in traffic.
Obi pinpointed ill-placed security checkpoints, particularly those located at narrow sections of roads or near ongoing construction zones as the primary cause of the chaos.
He described such placements as "irresponsible," arguing that they bring traffic to a complete standstill and create widespread frustration on numerous highways.
While acknowledging the sacrifices of security personnel and affirming respect for their role, Obi urged greater discretion and flexibility during peak travel times.
He highlighted how unnecessary delays exhaust drivers, increase the risk of accidents due to fatigue, and force early starters to travel into the night amid rising insecurity outcomes that, he said, undermine the very purpose of checkpoints: protecting lives.
"The purpose of security is to protect lives, not endanger them," Obi emphasized.
He advocated for a more strategic approach, including relocating checkpoints to less constrictive areas, speeding up inspections during heavy traffic periods, and improving coordination among agencies to remove avoidable bottlenecks.
"This will not only improve traffic flow without compromising security but also ensure our roads are safer and more humane for all."
Obi's comments come amid broader reports of challenging road travel conditions during the festive season, including poor road infrastructure, construction-related disruptions, and heavy holiday traffic volumes across the country.
His personal observations from traveling the roads himself add weight to ongoing public complaints about how routine security measures can inadvertently heighten risks rather than reduce them.
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