IGP orders touts, transport unions out of roads

Charity Nnaji

Ibrahim Idris, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), has ordered the instant dismantling of road blocks on roads by revenue agents, transport unions and other illegal task force across the country.

According to Police spokesman, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Jimoh Moshood, Special X-Squad has been deployed on highways and roads in the country to clear illegal road blocks and obstructions,.

“The IGP has deployed Special X-Squad Teams of the Force across the country to commence with effect from Monday, today, 17th April, 2017 the removal of all forms of illegal blockage of highways and roads.”

He also said the police would remove other obstructions on public highways and roads created by unlawful revenue/tax collectors, road transport unions, labour and trade related unions inhibiting vehicular movements in the country.

The Special X-Squad Teams are under strict instructions to   arrest, investigate and prosecute any person or group of persons found committing this act.

He explained that, “For avoidance of doubt, the taxes and levies act, Laws of Federation of Nigeria 2004 section 2 (2) disallowed any person, including a tax authority from mounting a road block in any part of the Federation for the purposes of collecting any tax or levy.”         

 “The Nigeria Police Force hereby advised the relevant State Governments, Local Government Councils, Boards of Internal Revenue service across the country, various transport unions, labour and traders associations that it is against the law for any organization to create a blockage and restrict or restrain members of the public the free usage of roads and highways anywhere in the country.”