El-Rufai Warns Against Moves To Block Kaduna-Abuja Road In Protest

Kaduna State Government has warned that any attempt to block the Kaduna-Abuja Road in protest against an issue is inappropriate.

According to Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s administration, such road blockage is tantamount to a collapse of law and order.

Samuel Aruwan, the Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs in the state, in a statement on Tuesday warned that any attempt to restrict the movement of citizens is not in the interest of public peace.

“While the Kaduna State Government is not depriving citizens the right to express discontent, public security and safety must always be the foremost consideration,” he said.

The commissioner noted that the “danger of barricading a strategic route like the Kaduna-Abuja Road is better appreciated within the context of ongoing security operations covering the route, and other areas of interest”.

The state government therefore strongly advised citizens against “participating in such processions, particularly those which will impact the normal socio-economic activities of other citizens, or expose lives to unnecessary danger”.

“Individuals, unions and other groups are therefore urged to note this advisory for strict compliance,” the state government said.

Students under the aegis of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), South-West zone, last Tuesday blocked the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, to protest against the ongoing strike by members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

The students, who gathered at the Sagamu interchange as early as 9 am, blocked both sides of the highway, preventing traffic flow.
Many travellers were stranded while commercial activities were grounded following the protest.

The students demanded an immediate end to the strike which had entered its seventh month, urging the Nigerian government to meet the demands of the striking lecturers to enable them to return to class.

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