Call your traffic law enforcement agencies to order, JTTT tells state governments

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

Joint Technical Task Team (JTTT) monitoring free movement of food items and farm produce across the country, has asked state governments to call their traffic law enforcement agencies to order, against hindering free movement of trucks carrying food items.
The was contained in a statement made available to media in kaduna yesterday.
The call came as truck drivers complained that, despite the Federal Government’s directive to all security agencies, to allow free and unhindered movement of farm produce and other food items across the country, they still face challenges with states owned traffic law enforcement agents.
The truck drivers laid the complaint when the Task Team in Kaduna State went on a situation monitoring tour on Kaduna-Zaria express way .
Some of the drivers who spoke to the Task Team said, they have been properly sensitized on the Covid-19 protocols and they tried their best to follow it yet security agents especially traffic law enforcement agents in Kano, Kaduna, Lagos and others victimise them and make them stay longer than necessary on their journey.
Meanwhile, Chairmen of the Task Team and Commissioner of Police in Kaduna State, CP Umar Muri, distributed the Task Team’s fliers to drivers and asked them to show any security or traffic agent that stops them anywhere the country.
He said, the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, had directed that, all security personnel allow free and unhindered movement of agricultural inputs, produce and livestock despite the Covid-19 restrictions.
The CP who spoke during the tour by through the Kaduna State Police Command’s Spokesman, ASP Muhammad Jalige said, the Task Team will forward the complaints of the truck drivers to the Federal Government.
A member of the Task Team and Kaduna State Secretary of National Union of Road Transport Workers, Alhaji Bature Yusuf Suleiman said, once the drivers comply with all the protocols of Covid-19 and have their vehicles particulars intact, they should be allowed free movement as directed by the Federal Government.
He however asked state governments, to call their security and traffic law enforcement agencies to order, saying that, the drivers have enjoyed cooperation of federal security forces, but face unnecessary harrassment from the states’ agencies.