Enugu Maritime Group Issues 14-Day Ultimatum Over Road Barricade
The Enugu State Maritime Professionals Association has given Governor Peter Mbah’s administration and the Minister of Interior, Tunji Ojo, a 14‑day deadline to remove the barricade along Old Park and Okpara Avenue, warning it will file a lawsuit if the barrier remains.
The barricade, closed nightly from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., has been criticized as unconstitutional and economically damaging. Association president Chief Osita Chukwu Patrick, who also leads the Save Nigeria Freight Forwarders Importers and Exporters Coalition (SNFFIEC), described the closure as “unlawful and unnecessary,” citing wasted commuter time, increased fuel costs, and severe traffic congestion.
Patrick noted that motorists and pedestrians heading to Ngene Evu, New Market, Coal Camp, the Central Police Station, and the old UNTH are forced onto lengthy detours via Ziks Avenue or Agbani Road. He warned: “If they fail to remove this barricade within fourteen days, I will take legal action against the state government and Correctional Service.”
The association urged authorities to adopt less restrictive security measures, contrasting Enugu’s approach with Abuja, Lagos, and Port Harcourt, where prisons operate without blanket road closures. While commending recent infrastructure projects in aviation and power, Patrick stressed that restoring free movement is urgent to protect residents’ rights and livelihoods.
If the ultimatum lapses without action, the group said it will seek judicial determination on the legality of the closure and relief to compel reopening of the affected roads.
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