WARRI/Nigeria: Military check points in Warri, Effurun, Udu, Orerokpe, Oku-Okoko, Agbarho/Ughelli Roads have been abolished.
However there has been mixed feelings from the general public over the development as some people are happy while others are sad over it.
Most road users who spoke to our reporter expressed joy over the abolition of military check points on our roads as they noted that the military check points have caused an avoidable traffic hold ups.
Mr Samson Ojo, a keke rider who spoke to our reporter on the development noted that “Most people have missed important appointments due to army check points, saying that the army do not check vehicles plying the roads. What they are interested in is to harass passengers receiving or making calls.”
He alleged further that drivers of heavy duty vehicles and oil tanker drivers are like ATM to the army at check points, and therefore hailed the authority over the abolition of military check points on our roads.
A commercial car driver plying Ughelli/Effurun Road, Collins Oluku alleged that army at check points are working in favour of hawkers on the high ways, alleging that the hawkers often settle the army after each days sales.
However, Comrade Alex Ejaife who spoke to our reporter on the development, expressed fear that removal of the army check points would make the roads unsafe and that it could encourage rigging during electioneering periods.
He therefore called for the return of the military check points but with modifications, suggesting that army check points should be without speed breakers.
Speaking from the economic perspective of the abolition of military check points, a middle age woman who declined to identify herself noted that the removal of military check points “Has removed food from the table of some less privileged persons hawking to make a living.” She therefore called for the reinstatement of the military check points.
Efforts to seek explanation from the army authorities by our reporter over the development met brick wall, for it was like taking a fresh meat from the mouth of an untamed angry lion.
