Fear Grips Motorists As Akwa Ibom Police Command Begins Third Party Insurance Policy Enforcement
By Dennis Udoma, Uyo
Palpable fear grips motorists in Akwa Ibom State as Police began enforcement of Third Party Insurance Policy on Saturday.
Checks by our reporter revealed that major roads in Uyo, the State capital have been deserted by motorists for fear of apprehension as Police patrol the city to ensure compliance of the new insurance scheme nationwide.
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Kayode Ehbetokun had last year directed all Police Commands in the country to ensure full enforcement of the order beginning from February 1, 2025.
Prior to the commencement of the new insurance policy, the Akwa Ibom State Police Command had engaged with stakeholders including the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers Union (NURTW), Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), the Media, Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) and the Akwa Ibom Internal Revenue Service (AKIRS) amongst others in its sensitization campaigns.
Some of the stakeholders pleaded for a shift on the commencement to a later date but the Police said the policy is not new but, had been part of the system for a long time.
The Chairman of the Akwa Ibom State branch of the Nigeria Labour Congress ( NLC) Mr. Sunny James had requested during the stakeholders meeting convened by the Police Command that, the enforcement date be postponed to make room for sufficient enlightenment.
But, CP Baba Azare argued that the policy is not new, but had been part of the system for a long time and called on members of the public to obtain their policy from genuine insurance companies.
He noted that, any motorists found with fake vehicle documents would be arrested and made to show where they obtained it.
Commissioner of Police Azare who spoke after the monitoring, praised the exercise as seamless adding that, motorists in the state have complied with the order.
“We are here to monitor the enforcement of the third party insurance as directed by the IGP.
“In Akwa Ibom State, we have a seamless exercise. The third party insurance is the requirement of the law. You must have all your documents to ply Nigerian roads, and urged motorists to obtain their third-party insurance papers to avoid impoundment of their vehicles.
Azare explained that the enforcement of the directive by the IGP became necessary to ensure that motor vehicles were road worthy and in line with the laws of the country.
The Commissioner of Police however stated that, the exercise would continue until every motorists complied with the law.
