Ahead of the gubernatorial and state houses of assembly elections scheduled to hold on Saturday, 18th of March, 2023, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, has ordered the restriction of all forms of vehicular movement on roads, waterways, and other forms of transportation.
A statement on Thursday by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, says that the restriction would be in effect from 12am to 6pm on election day in all States where elections would be conducted.
TheFact Daily reports that persons exempted from the order are those on essential services such as INEC officials, electoral observers, accredited media and observers, ambulances responding to medical emergencies, and firefighters among others. The directive also excludes the Federal Capital Territory as no election is being conducted there.
The Police Chief further reiterated that the ban on all security aides to VIPs and escorts from accompanying their principals and politicians to polling booths and collation centres during the election.
State-established and owned security outfits/organizations, quasi-security units, and privately-owned guard and security outfits are also barred from participating in election security management.
“The Inspector General of Police, therefore, urges all citizens to be law abiding during and after the elections even as he assures that all necessary security arrangements have been emplaced to ensure they exercise their franchise unhindered”, the statement said.
Adejobi said that requests by the general public for emergency security response should be channelled through the following contacts: 08033440189 (DIG Operations), 08033027731 (AIG FEDOPS), and 08034040439 (CP Elections), as well as the ‘NPF Rescue Me App’ on Android and ios, and via the NPF Rescue Me Emergency Toll-free line on 08031230631.
Similarly, other election situation room numbers which have been shared on Nigeria Police social media platforms will be repeatedly released by concerned State Police Commands for necessary emergency contact.
