Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has raised concerns over worsening traffic congestion on major roads across Nigeria, attributing the problem largely to poorly positioned security checkpoints.
In a statement reflecting on his travels during the recent festive season, Obi said he experienced severe gridlock on several highways, with some travellers forced to abandon their journeys after spending hours trapped in traffic while attempting to reach distant destinations.
According to him, a closer look at the situation shows that ill-placed security checkpoints are a major cause of the congestion. He described the siting of checkpoints at narrow portions of roads or near construction zones as irresponsible, noting that such placements often bring traffic to a complete standstill. Obi added that similar complaints have been reported on roads across the country.
While acknowledging and respecting the sacrifices of Nigeria’s security agencies, Obi urged them to exercise greater discretion and flexibility, especially during peak travel periods. He noted that many road users are returning to work, travelling long distances, and navigating poor road conditions, making unnecessary delays particularly exhausting and dangerous.
“These avoidable setbacks leave drivers fatigued and increase the risk of accidents as they struggle to remain alert behind the wheel,” he said, stressing that there is no justification for subjecting travellers to such hardship.
Obi further warned that prolonged delays often force motorists who began their journeys early to remain on the road well into the night, exposing them to heightened security risks amid rising insecurity. He argued that this outcome contradicts the very purpose of establishing security checkpoints, which is to protect lives.
He called for a more strategic and coordinated approach to road security, urging authorities to relocate checkpoints away from narrow roads and construction areas, speed up inspections during heavy traffic, and improve inter-agency coordination to eliminate unnecessary bottlenecks.
According to Obi, such measures would ease traffic flow without compromising security, while making Nigerian roads safer and more humane for all users.
