Former Anambra State governor and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has criticised the widespread of poorly situated security checkpoints, describing them as a major contributor to the country’s persistent traffic congestion.
Mr Obi in a X post on Sunday, said his observation while using several major roads across the country, particularly during the recently concluded festive season, revealed the prevalence of heavy traffic congestion.
He stated that the traffic gridlock dilemma often forced travellers to abandon their journeys, wasting hours while trying to get through.
Mr Obi said, “This festive season, I traversed several major roads across the country and encountered appalling levels of traffic congestion. At times, the gridlock was so extreme that travellers bound for distant destinations were forced to abandon their journeys, wasting hours trying to escape the chaos.”
He described the placement of security checkpoints on narrow roads and near construction zones as “nothing short of irresponsible, as it brings traffic to a complete standstill.”
Recommending discretion and flexibility as better approaches, Mr Obi urged security agencies to adopt strategies that consider the peculiarity of festive periods, as many road users already have to contend with long distances and poor road conditions.
Mr Obi said, “While I respect and recognise the sacrifices made by our security agencies, they must adopt greater discretion and flexibility during peak travel times. People are returning to work, facing long distances, and contending with poor road conditions.
“These unnecessary delays leave drivers exhausted, raising the risk of accidents as they struggle to stay alert behind the wheel. There is absolutely no justification for subjecting travellers to such avoidable setbacks.”
Mr Obi noted that prolonged road delays, which leave early travellers still on the road, especially until night hours despite its risk, contradicts the objective essence of security and checkpoints.
“The purpose of security is to protect lives, not endanger them. Extended delays force those who set out early to find themselves on the road well after dark, putting them at even greater risk in a time marked by rising insecurity. This contradicts the very objective of establishing security checkpoints,” he stated.
The politician called on concerned stakeholders to embrace strategies that would improve traffic flow without compromising security.
Mr Obi stated, “Checkpoints must be strategically located away from narrow roads and construction zones, inspections need to be expedited during heavy traffic, and agencies must coordinate effectively to eliminate unnecessary bottlenecks.”
