Amobi Ogah Moves A Motion Calling On National Security Agencies To Reduce Excessive Security Checkpoints On Onitsha Enugu Express Way

The member representing the good people of Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency, Hon Amobi Godwin Ogah has moved a motion calling on National Security Agencies to reduce the excessive security checkpoints on Onitsha-Enugu express way, pjtvnews report.

The speaker of the house, Tajudeen Abbas invited Hon Amobi Godwin Ogah to move the motion during the plenary session.

Hon Amobi Godwin Ogah informed the house that, the security agencies that are mostly involved in mounting security checkpoints on our major roads are the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Police Force and Federal Road Safety Corps.

In the motion moved, Ogah made the house to understand that, the distance between Onitsha and Enugu is Approximately 105km. Ogah was shocked that, in a journey of 105km, there are approximately 28 security checkpoints which is an average of 3.7km each. For example, Okwuzu junction, Amobia junction, Ugwuaobia boundary, Oji River junction, and Oyeama Hill, just to mention but a few.

Ogah further informed the house that, these excessive checkpoints subject travelers to constant harassment, delays, and extortion of different sorts in addition to other inconveniences. The house knows that, the mounting of numerous checkpoints along expressway violates the constitutional right of Nigerian citizens to free movement as enshrined in section 41 of 1999 constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria as amended.

It is also a direct affront to the dignity of the people, particularly in the south east where such levels of militarization are more pronounced.

It is quite worrisome that, these security checkpoints appear to be more of a tool for harassment than a genuine effort into ensuring security, noting that ordinary citizens, especially commercial drivers are often forced to pay bribes at the checkpoints to avoid delays or harassments. This is having detrimental effect on the social economic life of the region by causing delays, constant interruptions, increase in the cost of transportations, goods and other services, which alltogether, discourage economic activities and investment in the south east.

In as much as as security is important, the current approach of mounting excessive security checkpoints is counter productive and undermines the economic stability of the region.

Ogah advocates the use of modern and more efficient methods of maintaining security that do not subject the people to undue hardship or violate constitution fundamental rights.

He continued by resolving that, all the house committees on defense, army and police affairs to dialogue with the service chiefs and inspector general of police to explore alternative security strategies that will not subject the people of south east to undue hardship.

He went on to inform the committees on road safety to also dialogue with the corp marshals of the Federal road safety corps to regulate the numbers of its checkpoints on Onitsha-Enugu expressway.

He concluded by stating that, the house committee on national security to engage its relevant agencies and advocate for community fair security initiatives and improve intelligence gathering which will effectively address regional security concerns other than the use of excessive security checkpoints on the expressway.