Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Enugu State Police Command has ordered the immediate enforcement of all traffic laws across the state, directing its officers to arrest and prosecute motorists who violate existing regulations in a sweeping crackdown aimed at restoring order on the state's roads and curbing the rising tide of recklessness that has led to gridlock, road crashes and loss of lives. The directive, issued by Commissioner of Police Mamman Bitrus Giwa, follows what the command described as the "rampant disregard for traffic regulations by motorists," a trend that has resulted in avoidable gridlock, disruption of traffic flow, road crashes, loss of lives and destruction of property.
The enforcement order, announced on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, is in line with the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu's directive on the nationwide enforcement of traffic laws to restore order on Nigerian roads and safeguard lives and property. The command's spokesperson, SP Daniel Ndukwe, disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists, explaining that the commissioner had tasked the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, the command's Legal Officer and the State Traffic Officer to ensure the professional enforcement of the directive.
The enforcement will cover existing traffic laws and regulations applicable to motorists across the state, with officers directed to ensure the arrest and prosecution of traffic offenders in accordance with existing laws and regulations. Motorists who violate traffic rules will be detained and prosecuted, with the command vowing to sustain the enforcement until order is restored on Enugu roads. "The Commissioner of Police, Enugu State Command, CP Mamman Giwa, issued the directive in line with the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu's, directive on nationwide enforcement of traffic laws," the statement read.
The police commissioner, however, cautioned officers involved in the enforcement against violating the rights and dignity of motorists and other road users, directing that the enforcement be carried out professionally and in accordance with the law. He also warned that any police officer found engaging in extortion, harassment or any other form of misconduct during the exercise would face severe disciplinary sanctions. Giwa urged all motorists, including police officers and other security personnel, to familiarise themselves with and strictly obey traffic laws to avoid arrest and prosecution.
"CP Giwa urges all motorists, including police officers and other security personnel, to familiarise themselves with and strictly obey traffic laws to avoid arrest and prosecution," the statement read. "He emphasises that strict compliance with traffic regulations remains essential to reducing congestion, preventing road crashes, and ensuring the free flow of traffic across the State".
The enforcement order in Enugu comes amid a broader nationwide crackdown on traffic violations ordered by the Inspector-General of Police. In July 2026, the Enugu State Police Command impounded 195 vehicles across the state for violating vehicle registration and number plate regulations. The enforcement exercise, which took place on July 7, was personally led by CP Giwa, who supervised officers enforcing the nationwide ban on unregistered vehicles and those operating with covered, defaced, obscured, improperly affixed, unauthorised or missing number plates. The command warned that all offenders would be prosecuted in court as part of an ongoing nationwide enforcement ordered by the Inspector-General of Police.
The crackdown on traffic violations is also informed by growing security concerns. The police noted that unregistered and improperly identified vehicles have frequently been used by criminals to evade detection and frustrate security operations, making strict enforcement necessary. The command linked the exercise to a recent directive issued by the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, instructing all state police commands to strictly enforce the ban on unregistered vehicles and prosecute offenders nationwide.
The enforcement comes at a time when Enugu State has been grappling with the activities of fake traffic enforcement officials. In July 2026, the Enugu State Government banned all traffic task force operations on federal highways across the Enugu metropolis to curb the activities of fake enforcement officials accused of extorting motorists. The government disclosed that some suspected fake task force operatives were recently arrested while allegedly extorting motorists in different parts of the Enugu metropolis.
The police command has urged motorists still operating vehicles without proper registration or using illegal, covered, obscured or unauthorised number plates to regularise their documents immediately and comply with all extant regulations to avoid arrest and prosecution. "The affected vehicle owners will be charged to court and prosecuted accordingly," the command warned. The commissioner warned that the enforcement exercise would not be a one-off operation, stressing that the command would continue to clamp down on violators across the state.
As the enforcement begins, motorists in Enugu are now on notice: the era of impunity on the roads is over. The police command has made it clear that it will not tolerate reckless driving, unregistered vehicles, or any violation of traffic laws. The message from CP Giwa is unambiguous: obey the law or face arrest and prosecution. For the residents of Enugu, the crackdown offers hope of safer roads, reduced congestion, and a return to order on the state's highways.
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