THE ACCIDENT AND THE NIGERIAN POLICE...

Over the weekend, we were all saddened by the news of the fatal accident along Lagos-Ibadan expressway. A Trailer crushing over ten vehicles and starting a ferrocious fire that eventually lead to the death of 20? 30? 40? 50? ... Well for the number, the Nigerian Police are still not sure ( even after four days). How can they be sure when they cannot venture go there to count? Witnesses say a root cause for the high number of deaths was the unnecessary checkpoint at the scene of the accident. What were they checking for? "inner lights on a broad daylight"? Or if vehicles' (4) tyres were complete? Maybe they were checking if cars had not reached their expiry date. Truth is: any of these reasons would have been better.

A Nigerian Road Officer doing what he knows best...

The checkpoints are only to "check" if the road users have any money to give to them. The road blocks are so much you would think half of the police force are on checkpoints. Actually more than half of them are on the checkpoints. Then who is solving the million crime cases that occur in Nigeria every other day? Who is tracking down those kidnappers? Who is trying to incriminate our public officials? Definitely not the NIGERIAN ROAD FORCE. Their expertise is the road. Funny enough, when the crimes actually come to them on the road, they either co-operate or they take to their heels.

Countless smugglers of sorts ply this routes and these road blocks are the most interesting part of the journey as they get to exchange jokes and other "things" with the ROAD FORCE OFFICERS. Then come the armed robbers. The POLICE  take to their heels like they have to beat Usain Bolt's record whenever they hear rumors of armed robbers coming along the road. I think that must be one of their most important courses in the training college: ESCAPE 101.

An overhaul of the Police system in Naija is 'need'. There is a need to retrain "retrainable" officers and discard (yes! discard) the incorrigible ones. This is a very vital step in the bid to reform our country as lawlessness will only pull us down. The loss of faith in the Nigeria Police Force is a problem the government must address though I say this with all doubt they will do anything .

Question is: Can any good come out of Naija?

My Honest Opinion: YES! This question was asked in the Bible about 'Nazareth' and indeed a very great man JESUS did come out of Nazareth. So I do believe that a 'Jesus' is needed to change our police force and rid us of the bad eggs. SO COME Inspector Jesus, Naija is waiting.