Begging and compulsory giving on federal highways

The pathetic road conditions on most of our highways is worsened by the ever-constant roadblock/checkpoint where commercial drivers have to donate cash to uniformed police officers. No driver dares not to pay his due at any point when this unofficial private tax collection is taking place, because these officers are armed with others at strategic […]

The pathetic road conditions on most of our highways is worsened by the ever-constant roadblock/checkpoint where commercial drivers have to donate cash to uniformed police officers.

No driver dares not to pay his due at any point when this unofficial private tax collection is taking place, because these officers are armed with others at strategic distance with their riffles and long guns. The senior ones are keenly watching from their accident-prone Hilux pickups. Take, for instance, a commercial vehicle from Abuja to Jos, and you will have to stop more than twenty times. This has nothing to do with insecurities, because the motorists never ask question, rather, they make inquiries from vehicles driving the opposite side for the road situation.

This has contributed to the high cost of transport fare, with increase from N1,200 to N1,500/person due to the need to meet up with this unofficial compulsory tax.

I used to think that it’s only for the bus drivers passing near Wuse market who must donate to the unseen ‘ogas’ of the FCT police. This is done by not allowing a bus driver to move after loading passengers near Wuse market, until the conductor settles the armies of idle policemen/women. Some of us were happy when the President reviewed the salary of uniformed men upward, and were optimistic that practices of such kinds would stop. But we were proven wrong. Carrot without a stick does not work well in Nigeria.

Dr. Saidu Samaila, [email protected]