Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, has issued a firm directive for the shutdown of all illegal trailer parks across the state, warning that truck drivers currently operating in such locations have just one month to relocate.
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‎Speaking in Lokoja during the official flag-off of the Access-to-Care Coverage programme, the governor stressed that unregulated trailer parks would no longer be tolerated, adding that security and public safety remain at the heart of his administration’s agenda.
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‎Governor Ododo expressed particular concern over the trailer parks at Zariagi and Osara, which, according to security intelligence, have gradually turned into hideouts for criminal elements.
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‎He revealed that criminals masquerading as truck drivers had been using these areas as cover to undermine the state’s security architecture.
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‎The governor maintained that the activities at such illegal parks threaten not only the wellbeing of law-abiding citizens but also jeopardize the ongoing efforts of the state’s counter-intelligence operations.
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‎He emphasized that protecting residents from criminal infiltration was non-negotiable.
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‎Ododo reassured legitimate businesses and transport operators that his government was open to supporting regulated and recognized trailer parks that adhere to the law.
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‎He called on stakeholders in the transport sector to collaborate with security agencies to ensure compliance with the new directive.
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‎With the one-month ultimatum now in effect, security agencies have been directed to monitor compliance closely and clamp down on any illegal operation that fails to shut down after the grace period.
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‎The move, according to Ododo, is a decisive step towards safeguarding lives, property, and the peace of Kogi State.