News
Christmas: Commuters groan over gridlocks, high fares in South East
Some Commuters have groaned over gridlocks on various expressways caused by multiple checkpoints and roadblocks by security agencies and tax agents within the South East geopolitical zone.
The commuters, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in separate interviews, blamed the high cost of transportation to the roadblocks and the extortions by the security agencies and the tax agents.
Mr David Uzonna, a regular commuter, who is based in Awka, said road blocks were a major challenge they faced in their daily operations.
He said there was a total of 19 roadblocks between Awka and Enugu, a journey of less than 100 kilometres.
“The extortion that goes on at the road blocks and delays was partly responsible for the increase in transport fares.
“An 18 seater bus that used to cost N3,000 was now between N4,000 and N4,500, while Sienna vehicle that used to cost N5,000 and N6,000 per trip, now cost N7,000,” he said.
Uzonna said the condition of the road was better but what would have been gained was lost to gridlock caused by the security checkpoints.
He urged the south east governors to intervene and reduce the number of checkpoints within the region to hasten movement and also boost economic activities.
Mrs Ifeoma Agueze, an Europe-based Nigerian, who returned to spend the Christmas with her family members, said she spent almost 10 hours by road from Abuja to Enugu due to numerous checkpoints and bad roads.
“Traveling in Nigeria either by road or by air is chaotic and frustrating. I left Abuja with a Sienna by 7am, we met some checkpoints from Nasarawa but on getting to Otukpa, the roadblocks increased in number till we got to Enugu by 7.30pm.
“In fact, I lost count of the checkpoints mounted by different groups including the soldiers, police, Road Safety, the Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIOs), and the agriculture produce team. This is a journey that is supposed to be for six hours.
“They would not only stop and search vehicles but would also demand for money forcefully from drivers and if you fail to play ball, they would delay you for hours,” she said.
It is a similar situation on Enugu- Onitsha expressway, Owerri-Port Harcourt Road, Enugu-Okigwe-Owerri Road where passengers are sometimes asked to come down from the vehicle and walk past the checkpoints before joining their vehicles.
Some commercial drivers who narrated their experiences, said they spend between N2,000 and N100,000 depending on the route and the vehicle.
Mr Dominic Nwuda, a commercial driver that ply between Enugu and Port Harcourt, said he spent between N3,000 and N5,000 to settle the police and soldiers on the road.
According to him, that is why we increase our fares to cover such expenses. If you do not comply, they will ask you to offload the luggage in your vehicle and seize your vehicle documents until you give them money.
A truck driver, simply called Ahmed, who conveys foodstuffs from Adamawa to the East, said their major obstacle was the Agric produce team especially from Obollo Afor in Enugu State to Abia and Rivers states.
“They collect as much as N10,000 at every stop after checking the foodstuffs and livestock of every truck,” he said.
He said that it was a different situation while traveling from Adamawa to Lagos where they paid only once to the union.
Meanwhile, commuters have lamented the high transportation fares, describing it as “a difficult situation” for the Christmas and new year celebrations.
Some travellers said that the fare was higher compared to the previous years, calling on the state government and other relevant agencies to prevail on the situation.
Mrs Mercy Okoro, a traveller at Ebonyi Transport Services (EBOTRANS) said the situation was difficult on the public.
Okoro, who was to travel with her four kids to Umuahia, Abia state said she could no longer embark on the journey due to the higher fare.
A driver, Mr Clement Nwafor, said that the cost of traveling from Abakaliki to Afikpo is N2, 500 and Onicha, Ohaozara local government areas is N2, 500 respectively. This is what we have been collecting since the year began.
On checkpoints, Nwafor, said it was not common in Ebonyi state, stating that there were only three checkpoints from the security agencies along the Abakaliki-Afikpo road.
“We don’t normally meet checkpoints within the state. You can find such along the highways like, Abakaliki-Enugu expressway, Enugu-Onitsha among others.
Transport operators in Enugu metropolis have also increased their fares within the city as residents make final shopping for the Christmas celebrations.
Investigation by NAN showed that the increase involved taxi drivers, bus drivers, Uber drivers and tricycle operators also known as Keke.
NAN reports that most drivers, especially city bus drivers have hiked their fares for every drop, thereby frustrating many commuters.
NAN reports that a transport fare from Gariki to either Ogbete market or New market which used to cost N400 now goes for between N500 and N600 by bus while tricycles cost the same.
Also, bus fare from Agbani road to other parts of the city has increased to about 50 per cent.
A bus fare from Ogbete market to Abakpa has also gone up to between N500 and N600 from the usual N400.
A taxi fare from Agbani road to Asata road inside the city which used to cost N400 now costs N600.
A bus driver, Mr Ikechukwu Eze, told NAN that the situation was just normal and not connected to increase in petrol or any other factor.
“Passengers are rushing; so, if you cannot pay, another passenger is ready to pay.
“It is our time to make little money to celebrate Christmas like others,” he said.
A tricycle operator, Mr Innocent Uzor, said that as people were rushing to the market and to their villages, it is time for transporters to make money.
Also speaking, another passenger, Mrs Veronica Ugwueze condemned the hike in fares, describing it as “selfish and unreasonable”.
“It is wickedness by tricyclists and bus drivers, they are just exploiting people because of Christmas,” she said. (NAN)
Amid the recall process initiated against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the Arewa Youths Progressives Assembly has told both the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and the police that Nigerians are keenly watching their actions.
This came amid viral video of some politicians in the Kogi State mass-signing signatures purported to be that of the Senator’s constituents.
It was gathered that the Senator has already petitioned the police over the development.
However, addressing journalists on Tuesday, the National President of Arewa Youths Progressives Assembly, Shuaibu Usman, accused the INEC of always compromising the electoral process in Kogi State.
Usman, who recalled how results of the last governorship election in the state emerged even before the exercise commenced, urged the commission to redeem itself.
He said, “Kogi parades as a worst example when it comes to INEC conduct of election in Nigeria. We have not forgotten how many credible organisations, including Yiaga Africa, raised the alarm of the electoral heist that went on during the last guber election in that state.
“So, INEC has been notorious for providing a thriving ground for politicians in Kogi State to mess up the country’s electoral system.
“The same people are at it again, this time hiding under the guise of a recall process against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. With their Kogi magic, they quickly manufactured over 250,000 signatures, whereas the entire voters during the main election stood at 120,000.
“One need not be a suitsayer to know that these are the same elements who are known to be chronic election riggers, with INEC as their enablers.
“However, we must caution the INEC that this should not be business as usual; this is beyond Kogi State, so Nigerians are watching.
“We were taken aback when the INEC after announcing that the petition did not meet its requirements, returned a day after to tell Nigerians that the same petitioners have met the requirements- what a quick fix!
“The INEC must not kowtow to the whims and caprices of desperate political elements in Kogi State, as this will be resisted by Nigerians.”
Similarly, the apex Igbo group also urged the police to ensure that all those in forging the signatures of Senator Natasha’s constituents were brought to book.
According to the group, the viral videos showed known faces in Kogi State, wondering why the police were yet to effect any arrest.
“By now, we had expected that some of the perpetrators should be cooling their heels in custody or having their days in court, but it is yet to happen.
“There should be no room for compromise, the culprits, no matter how highly placed, should be identified, arrested and prosecuted.
“We urge that the police should engage forensic experts to analyze those signatures before the INEC takes any further step in the said petition,” Usman further stated.
Apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), to halt what it called unjust persecution of socialite, Aisha Sulaiman Achimugu, OFR
This is also as the group faulted the manner of the raid carried out by the commission on the socialite’s residential house in Abuja.
It could be recalled that a video went viral, which showed officials of the commission, reportedly in the family home of the Achimugus.
This came after she was declared wanted by the EFCC.
Her 80-year-old mother was also said to have been forced to sit on the bare floor, tortured and refused to give her water when she pleaded for it
In a statement made available to journalists on Sunday, the National President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, described the action of the EFCC for declaring the national honour’s recipient wanted barely some days after she was invited by the commission as gross
Okwu said enquiry by the Igbo group showed that some days after Achimugu was informed of the invitation by her lawyer, the commission rushed to the media declaring her wanted even when their letter in the public domain stated that everything accused her of is ALLEGEDLY and she is presently not in the country
“This development clearly smarks of a premeditated agenda to embarrass and discredit her personality. What else could justify the haste for an alleged crime to warrant being declared wanted just some days after she was invited by the commission?
“Mrs Achimugu is a global figure, not a politician and a national honours recipient, as well as a recipient of the US President’s award. This calibre of a person can never go under hiding.
“The fact that she is currently out of the country when the EFCC extended an invitation to her does not warrant their hasty declaration on alleged case without a competent court sanctioning such action.
“This is utterly reprehensible, and we urge that the EFCC should not continue to be used as a tool for political witch-hunting.
“Mrs Achimugu is an established, decent, and well to do businesswoman who respects the laws and humanity and from a respected family. Her source of wealth has never been a source of controversy or hidden.
“We want to declare that her rights should be respected; her contributions to the growth of citizens and the nation should not be ignored. The EFCC should withdraw the wanted tag on her.
While quoting Section 7 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act and Section 36 of the Nigerian Police Act, the Youth President said the relevant laws prohibit arrest by proxy.
He said, “the reported invitation and declaration of Mrs. Achimugu is unlawful and a gross violation of the provisions of Nigeria’s relevant laws. We had waited to see whether the commission would make a turn, but its silence means that they are bent on tarnishing her image for someone who is private and law abiding.
“This is worrisome and should be condemned in all totality. There is no justification for their actions. This is a gross illegality.
“We recall that the EFCC did announce that it would stop this kind of raid, but it appears that nothing has changed. This crude method of arrest defies all logic and legality.
“All these go to show that there is more to this than meets the eye. It is albeit political is pure harassment to satisfy certain interests.
“Having said this, we urge the Chairman of the EFCC, who pledged before now to reform the commission, to direct the operatives to act right and let the law take it due course without further delay or embarrassment”
A business woman, Joy Smart-Chinenye, has revealed how she was arrested, brutalized, tortured, and detained by monitoring unit personnel of the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters, based on a petition filed by her husband, George Obinna Smart Unaegbu, over alleged debt to him.
The incident which took place on Sunday (Mothers Day) was said to have elicited a serious drama, wild condemnation and is already causing ripples among the police hierarchy.
Her explanation was contained in a statement released by her lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, titled, “Betrayed, Tortured, and Extorted – My Husband’s Cruelty Knows No Bounds”, obtained by journalists in Abuja.
Ejiofor, also lawyer to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), had in his reaction to the police brutality, described the action of the police as unconstitutional.
According to him, Section 4 of the Nigeria Police Act clearly outlines the duties of the NPF, making no provision for debt recovery.
Joy Smart-Chinenye said, “As I write this, I am in severe agony, tears, and unbearable pain.
While mothers across the world celebrated Mothering Sunday, my own husband, the man I once loved and supported, threw me into Abattoir-SARS detention in Abuja – a facility notorious for holding condemned criminals, kidnappers, and terrorists.
“This is the same man I met when he was just a classroom teacher. I stood by him, fed him, supported him financially, and watched as God elevated him to a multi-billionaire. But how did he repay me? By having me brutalized, arrested, and locked away in one of the most dreaded cells in the country.
“Despite my unwavering fidelity and loyalty throughout our marriage, he has slept with both single and married women, exposing me to multiple infections. I have endured humiliation and betrayal in silence, keeping our marital issues out of the public eye, yet he continues to find ways to destroy me.
“This time, his weapon was the Nigeria Police Force. He manipulated them into arresting me over an alleged debt – a personal, civil matter that should have been settled in court, not through police brutality. On March 27, 2025, officers stormed our home, forcibly took me away in front of our children, and detained me at FCID Annex, Panti, Lagos, where I was tortured and coerced into transferring ₦5 million to an account they provided.
“When I could not meet his remaining demands, I was forcefully transported to Abuja, where I was detained at Abattoir, enduring further abuse, torture and extortion.
“I was repeatedly taken from the SARS detention cell at night to unknown locations, where I was subjected to intense coercion and intimidation. These harrowing experiences continued until the timely intervention of Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofor ( I. C. Ejiofor Chambers), whose relentless legal efforts finally secured my release in the wee hours of last night. But the scars – both physical and emotional – remain.
“I can no longer stay silent. In due course, I will grant a press release and expose the full truth about Obinna George Smart Unaegbu. The world deserves to know.”