Date Published: 05/15/10

13 th May 2010.

Press Release

Lagos AC Calls for Decisive Action on Obstruction of Nation’s Highways.

The Lagos State chapter of the Action Congress has demanded tough and decisive action against religious groups and other groups that constitute public nuisance on Nigerian roads and inconvenience other road users. The party says that time has come for the respective government agencies to ensure a strict code of conduct on the use of Nigerian roads and severely punished for illegal obstruction of highways in the name of religious services, warning of a possible chaos should this ugly trend is allowed to continue.

In a release in Lagos, signed by the Lagos State Publicity Secretary of the AC, Joe Igbokwe, the party says that some people and groups have formed the habit of visiting nightmares and untold sufferings on fellow Nigerians for sundry reasons that are as selfish as they do not advance the well being of Nigerians. It says that it was reacting to the latest case which happened last Saturday, 15 th May 2010 on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway where Nigerians slept on the road because the Redeemed Christian Church of God was holding a programme. It urges the government to be strict on road usage otherwise Nigerians will continue to suffer unnecessarily.

“Lagos AC notes that most religious groups have found it fashionable to operate on the nation’s highways especially the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and have been in the habit of staging constant programmes that constitute nightmares to Nigerian road users. We are appalled that the Nigerian government has been indifferent to the plights of Nigerians in the hands of these religious groups and we are even more peeved that these religious groups do not show any concern for the plight of Nigerians and we are sad that no one seems to be concerned.

“We still do not know the rational of targeting Nigerian road users for wholesome suffering by people that cash in on the unconcerned attitude of Nigerian government to simple etiquettes and codes of behavior. It is sad that Nigeria is loosing several man hours, millions of Naira and untold suffering to hapless road users. It is sad that the government allows this act of indiscipline, which negatively affect the people and the economy of the country while it grows in its audacity. We believe no responsible government allows these to happen.

“Lagos AC is compelled to advice that religious groups and other interests that target mass participation should move out from the highways and concentrate their activities in areas where they do not obstruct other people’s businesses and activities. We urge the government to ensure compliance with this necessary code so that religious or other groups should not continue constituting nuisance to innocent Nigerian road users. We do not see the reason why religious groups should concentrate on highways where they have continued to impede the movement of Nigerians and the government feels unconcerned about this development. We urge the federal government to develop a strict code for religious groups that still insist on operating on the roads to ensure they stop being obstructions to Nigerians. We urge the respective government agencies to quickly move in to solve this menace as soon as possible so that Nigerians will breathe a sigh of relief from this worsening problem.”

Joe Igbokwe.

Publicity Secretary.

Lagos AC.