Irked by the reckless abuse of sirens in Nigeria, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Hafiz Ringim, on Friday in Abuja announced a ban on the use of sirens by unauthorized persons.
Ringim said in a statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, Mr Olusola Amore, that only the President of the Federal Republic, the vice- president, state governors and their deputies, were entitled to use sirens.
It said others, who “might wail or blare the siren” were ambulance and fire brigade services on emergency or rescue operations, and bullion vans with escorts.
The statement explained that the ban followed reports of unlawful use of the siren by some government officials and private individuals, especially in the South-East and South-West geo-political zones of the country.
It said that the use of sirens in those zones was done without due care to other road users, thereby endangering the lives of commuters and pedestrians.
The statement warned that any unauthorised person caught using a siren would be arrested and prosecuted.
“The IGP has consequently directed all the zonal assistant inspectors general of police and commissioners of police to arrest any person or group of persons found violating the order and charge them to court accordingly,” it said.