Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Privatisation, has criticized the excessive security roadblocks across major roads in Nigeria’s South-East, describing them as outdated and counterproductive.
Speaking during an interview on Arise TV’s This Day program hosted by Reuben Abati, the former Abia State Governor called on the Nigerian Army and other security agencies to remove the roadblocks. He argued that these measures exacerbate the region’s security challenges and cause undue hardship for commuters.
“Where people are stopped on the road and delayed is no longer a viable security strategy,” Kalu said. “Security today should be driven by intelligence, not by creating bottlenecks for commuters. The Army should dismantle these roadblocks in Igboland.”
On tackling criminal elements, Kalu urged South-East governors to adopt firm and decisive measures, citing his own tenure as governor of Abia State when he maintained a tough stance against crime. He emphasized the need for leadership that prioritizes the safety of lives and property.
“I am very strong-willed on security matters,” Kalu stated. “No governor should tolerate any form of crime. Igbos must feel safe in their homeland, and it is the duty of both federal and state governments to ensure that.”
Kalu also addressed the recent arrest of Simon Ekpa, a pro-Biafran agitator detained in Finland over alleged terrorism-related activities. He revealed that Ekpa had previously threatened him for refusing to support Biafra but noted, “I left him to his conscience. My belief is in democracy and my commitment to Nigeria as a united country.”
Turning to the ongoing debate over proposed tax reform bills at the National Assembly, Senator Kalu acknowledged public criticisms of the legislation. He described the concerns as part of healthy democratic discourse but maintained that the amendments were necessary to modernize Nigeria’s tax laws and support economic growth.
“The tax reforms are progressive and long overdue,” Kalu said. “If we want to achieve meaningful progress, updating our tax framework is essential.”
