THE GUARDIAN
Road travel in the South has rarely been an epic joyride, but it just got worse. Multiple checkpoints by various security agencies and touts alike – sometimes at 500-metre intervals – suggest a no-thoroughfare to the Eastern part of the country. While the need for security presence is understood by all, most harrowing is the attendant bedlam that serves more extortion and harassment purposes than the protection of lives and property, Bertram Nwannekanma (Lagos), Lawrence Njoku (Enugu), Charles Ogugbuaja and Collins Osuji (Owerri) report.
The distance from Lagos to Aba, in Abia State, is 464 kilometres, and normally completed in six to eight hours. While the road infrastructure has improved, to anticipate a better sail for motorists, the traffic has become more chaotic – with a new travel time of 12 to 16 hours!
The Southern corridors are not new to security checkpoints, but t hey have more than doubled lately. A recent count by The Guardian at the last festive season showed over 120 stops almost in quick succession on the 464-kilometre trip.
Between Lagos and Ore are about 40 checkpoints demarcated with wooden flatbeds, logs, sandbags, and fire cans. Ore to Benin has 46 of them. Benin to Onitsha, 25. Travellers inbound from Owerri, Enugu, Abakaliki, Asaba, and Rivers have scores of checkpoints to add to the list.
At an average of five-minute delay at each stop – if both ‘gatekeepers’ and driver are in the mood to play ball – the 120 checkpoints imply 10 hours of extra travel time per trip.
At an average of five-minute delay at each stop – if both ‘gatekeepers’ and driver are in the mood to play ball – the 120 checkpoints imply 10 hours of extra travel time per trip.
At intervals are unpleasant experiences for both the drivers, who had to part with ‘toll fares’, and commuters, who had to endure the agony of the transaction.
‘Military’ zone, keep off!
