Death Convoys

Government official convoys have been riding roughshod over residents for years, resulting in deadly collisions and serious injuries. In a recent incident, a commercial motorcycle and its riders were killed when a convoy purportedly belonging to Emmanuel Agbaje, a former member of the Edo State House of Assembly, collided with it. This happened at the Edo State community of Ikpeshi, in the Akoko-Edo Local Government Area. These deaths are avoidable. It is imperative that public servants adopt more responsible behavior and that their careless impunity end.

Even worse, two of the police officers in the convoy were killed when angry young people in the neighborhood attacked the law enforcement officers following the incident. There were two more casualties. This is regrettable and incorrect. It’s true that two wrongs do not equal a right. Attacking state agents constitutes lawlessness. Youths in Nigeria ought to stop resorting to brutality, even when provoked.

Regretfully, the threat posed by careless convoys has persisted without end. Two tragic events connected to these convoys took place in May and December 2023 at Abakaliki, the capital of Ebonyi State. In the first, three people died before their time. In the second occurrence, the lives of an Ebonyi State University 100-level student and his motorcycle rider were lost.

While Adamu Fintiri, the governor of Adamawa State, was on a campaign trail in December 2022, a Toyota Hilux carrying vigilantes broke down on route from Yola, the state capital, to Mubi. In the mishap, three cops lost their lives.

Government convoys in Nigeria are infamous for operating with blatant impunity. The security personnel in these convoys are a huge nuisance because they are inebriated with power. They crash into other cars, drive against the flow of traffic, yell sirens without warning, and intimidate other drivers. They disregard the posted speed restriction. They lock down the area when they are on the road, preventing others from moving. The taxpayers are somewhat uncomfortable about this.

One striking instance occurred during Bola Tinubu’s June 2023 visit to Lagos, which was part of his inaugural tour as president of his home state. In his convoy were roughly 120 cars. Following criticism for ostentation despite the poor status of the nation’s economy, he reduced it to roughly 57 vehicles during a second visit to the state in December.

Most importantly, convoys this closely guarded are wasteful. During a time of economic hardship, they greatly increase the expense of government. Given how badly the economy is doing, it is a sign that the President and state governors are leading fake lives.

Top government officials, VIPs, and affluent businesspeople have continued to break the law with the help of the police, despite the fact that the National Road Traffic Regulation 2012 (Section 154) restricts the use of sirens to the President, the deputy, and 79 other people.

As Lagos’ governor from 2011 to 2019, Babatunde Fashola, on the other hand, painted a picture of propriety. In addition to not using convoys or sirens when traveling, he forbade his commissioners, officials, and bullion vehicles from doing the same. The roadways in Lagos became somewhat serene as a result. He is an example that others should follow.

According to studies, nations with rules governing the use of sirens that are rigorously enforced include the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. The Supreme Court of India formerly banned VIPs from using lighting and sirens. Sirens and torches indicate crises in these somewhat temperate climates. In Nigeria, this ought to likewise be the case.

Nigerians need to come together with pressure groups and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to demand the establishment of guardrails prohibiting the use of sirens and to demonstrate against the careless convoys of death until public officials change their ways.