When will Nigerians ever begin to do the right thing? Every
now and then, blaring sounds from sirens are heard from almost every corner of
every locality in Nigeria. If you think the President or the Vice President of
Nigeria, the Senate President, a State Governor or a Security Service Chief is
passing by; you are most likely to be mistaken. Unfortunately, the use of
sirens has been overtaken by other classes of Nigerians and non-Nigerians alike
who were never designated by the constitution of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria to use such vehicular instrument. What
is the implication of this indiscriminate use of sirens to our security as
Nigerians?
Make out time and take a casual walk down any popular
Nigerian road, you will be amazed to see how every class of vehicles now have
security sirens mounted on them without regard to the stipulated definition of cars and
designated owners that are entitled to have sirens. Before now, only the
police, military or major constitutionally-recognized escort outfit vehicles
had sirens. Now, even private and some commercial vehicles can be seen wielding
sirens without much ado. I am definitely not exaggerating when I say that I
once spotted a taxi cab along one of the streets in Owerri, Imo State fitted
with a siren. Not long after the just-concluded general elections in Nigeria, a
saloon car branded with political banners was sighted with carelessly-fitted
sirens. This was obviously used during the electioneering campaign periods.
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| A Car with Siren |
Now let us get down to the matter on ground. Why would a
system that claims to be on top of its duties allow such social insensitivity
and disregard to social order to continue knowing fully well the security
challenges such indiscriminate use of sirens pose? The calibers of persons as I
mentioned in the beginning of this publication – the Nation’s President and his
Vice, the Senate leaders and serving Security Chiefs are only entitled by the
constitution of the land to ride on sirens. Another definition of persons
allowed to drive on sirens his the cash-carrying bullion vans on active duty
and ambulances on emergency health services. If I am wrong, please correct me.
Because Nigerians habitually respect sirens as they approach
by clearing the highway to allow the subject pass, crimes have been perpetrated
successfully using siren-blaring cars as a getaway or escape plan. Every tom,
dick and harry now use sirens and as a patriotic Nigerian, you must give way
the moment you hear sirens approach. Hence, criminals who disguise as security
escorts on sirens can have a field day without any form of check.
Although there have been series of government announcements
on the media concerning who should use the siren and who should not, no
government agency has taken the bull by the horn to ensure strict compliance to
such orders. Consequently, this offence increases by the day and impunity on
the indiscriminate use of sirens in Nigeria becomes the order of the day.
“Maybe, when I buy a Keke Napep, I shall fix a siren to enable me always have
my right of way at traffic jams”.
The Federal, the State and the Local Governments must work
in synergy to checkmate the increase of this social disorder and bring the
perpetrators to book. I call the carrying of sirens by unqualified persons a
crime because it induces crime, breaches the rights of other road users and
creates social chaos. It initiates a chain reaction where corporate touting and
social misdemeanor thrive. If uncheck, the indiscriminate use of sirens in
Nigeria will increasingly encourage social insecurity.
As the new administration of President Muhammadu Buhari
commences on a positive note of war against corruption, the government and
indeed all stakeholders including you reading this post should join hands to
act and publicly condemn this nefarious act by some unscrupulous Nigerians.
Enough is enough! The time to end this indiscriminate use of sirens in our
country Nigeria is NOW!!!
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