COVID-19: Police Order Removal Of Checkpoints In Lagos Amid Curfew Imposition

The Lagos state police command has ordered the removal of some checkpoints in the state to ease transportation of essential commodities and workers.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Hakeem Odumosu, gave the order on Wednesday  in a statement issued by the command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Bala Elkana.

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The order was sequel to the CP’s visit to various checkpoints in the State.

According to the statement, the monitoring team discovered that some essential service workers were trapped in the traffic congestion caused by the  thorough searches at the checkpoints.

Consequently, new checkpoints were created in New locations with U-turn to ease the flow of vehicular movement.

“It took lots of efforts for the CP and his team to create access routes for those on essential duties to pass through. The observation informed the decision to relocate the enforcement checkpoints to more specious and conducive locations.

“The CP said the new locations have u-turn points for drivers to easily turn vehicles not on essential duties, thereby paving way for essential service workers to move,’’ the spokesman noted.

Elkana explained that essential service workers include those of hospitals and all related medical establishments and organisations in healthcare-related manufacturing and distribution.

“Commercial establishments such as those in food processing, distribution and retail, petroleum distribution and retail entities, power generation, transmission and distribution companies and private security companies are also among those exempted from the curfew.

“And because these establishments are exempted, access will not be restricted. Workers in telecommunication companies, broadcasters, print and electronic media staff who can prove they are unable to work from home are also exempted,” he added.

The Commisoner of Police was said to have expressed satisfaction with the high level of compliance with the curfew order by residents.

Odumosu implored them continue to support the Police and other law enforcement agencies in the fight against COVID-19, assuring that security has been strengthened around the boundary communities to prevent non-essential inter-state movement.

For complaints and inquiries, the Lagosians were asked to call the following numbers: 09010512352, 09010512353, 09010512355, 09010512356 and 09010512358.