Reps task police boss, NEMA on highway robbery, flooding

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Abuja - The House of Representatives on Thursday in Abuja urged the Inspector General of Police to intensify vigilance and patrols aimed at checking incessant armed robberies along the Abuja-Kano express way.

The house resolution followed the adoption of a motion under matters of urgent public importance introduced on the floor by Ali Madaki (APC- Kano).

The member drew the attention of lawmakers to the need for the chamber to address the menace on the Abuja-Kano highway.

Madaki stressed the importance of the highway to the socio-economic development of Nigeria as it linked other parts of Nigeria to North West and North East geopolitical zones.

"The robbery attacks have gradually grounded economic activities on the affected axis."

He lamented that the attack on commuters and transporters along the Maiduguri road had also forced owners of transport businesses to divert their operational routes and plied Kano-Abuja highway.

Urging government to keep its responsibility of safeguarding the lives and property of citizens, the lawmaker quoted sections of the constitution.

He said: “the Nigerian constitution, section 14 (2) (b) states clearly that the primary purpose of government is the security and welfare of the people.”

“But what is happening now, especially when you leave Kaduna, you find bad people hanging at different corners of the road. They would stop you, snatch your vehicle or properties, and they will disappear out of sight.

“A member of this house; I won’t mention his name, was recently attacked and his belongings taken away. Another person also got robbed and slapped by these dear-devils.”

Presiding officer, Emeka Ihedioha, ruled that the motion be appropriately referred to the Committee on Police Affairs, and the panel was expected to report back to the house in two weeks.

In another development, Deputy Majority Leader, Leo Ogor (PDP-Delta) stressed the need for government’s intervention to control the flood ravaging towns and communities in Isoko federal constituency of Delta.

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Ogor said while moving the motion that “my highly respected colleagues, as I stand before you, my people of Isoko are currently taking refuge in one primary school or the other.

"And I know that my colleagues have the interest of my people at heart to support this motion”.

The motion, which falls under infrastructure and natural disaster in the standing rules, was not debated as the question was put and the resolution passed.

Thereafter, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) was urged to step in and intervene to ameliorate the suffering of the people of the constituency.