Peter Obi decries security checkpoints as cause of crippling traffic gridlock, urges urgent reforms

Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, on Sunday raised concerns over worsening traffic gridlock across major Nigerian highways, blaming the situation largely on poorly positioned security checkpoints that he said are endangering lives rather than protecting them.

In a statement reflecting on his travels during the festive season, Obi said he encountered “appalling levels of traffic congestion” on several major roads nationwide, with some commuters forced to abandon long-distance journeys after spending hours trapped in gridlock.

According to him, the congestion is often caused by security checkpoints mounted at narrow sections of roads or close to construction zones, a practice he described as irresponsible and counterproductive.

“Positioning checkpoints at bottlenecks brings traffic to a complete standstill,” Obi said, noting that similar frustrations have been reported on highways across the country.

While acknowledging the sacrifices and critical role of security agencies, Obi stressed the need for greater discretion and flexibility, especially during peak travel periods when Nigerians are returning to work, covering long distances and navigating deteriorating road conditions.

He warned that prolonged delays leave drivers exhausted and increase the risk of accidents as motorists struggle to remain alert behind the wheel.

“The purpose of security is to protect lives, not endanger them,” he said, adding that extended gridlock often forces travellers who began their journeys early to remain on the road late into the night, exposing them to heightened security risks amid rising insecurity.

Obi argued that this outcome contradicts the very objective of establishing security checkpoints.

He called for a more strategic and coordinated approach, urging security agencies to relocate checkpoints away from narrow roads and construction zones, speed up inspections during heavy traffic, and improve inter-agency coordination to eliminate unnecessary bottlenecks.

Such measures, he said, would ease traffic flow without compromising security and make Nigerian roads “safer and more humane” for travellers.

The former Anambra State governor’s comments come amid growing public frustration over worsening road conditions, traffic congestion and security-related delays on highways across the country.