SIREN MADNESS: HOW POWER AND PRIVILEGE ARE POLLUTING NIGERIAN ROADS
Mohammed Tikka
If you live in Nigeria today, especially in a place like Taraba State, you’ve probably heard sirens almost every day. Loud, sharp, and often annoying, the siren sound is supposed to mean there’s an emergency, maybe someone is dying in an ambulance or the police are rushing to stop a crime.
But sadly, that’s no longer the case, in many towns and cities across the country, sirens are no longer used for emergencies. Instead, they are used by powerful people, politicians, traditional rulers, government workers, and business owners, just to show off or clear traffic. In Taraba, it has become so common that almost every so-called “big man” now moves around with sirens blaring and escorts clearing the road ahead.
Sometimes, even second-class chiefs or personal assistants to politicians drive with convoys and sirens. Many of them are not allowed by law to use these things. But they do it anyway, and nobody stops them.
The law in Nigeria is very clear. Only a few people and vehicles are allowed to use sirens. The National Road Traffic Regulations, 2012, states that only the President, Vice President, state governors and their deputies, the Senate President, the of the House of Representatives, top judges, heads of the military and police, ambulances, fire trucks, and emergency agencies on official duty are allowed to use sirens.
If you are not on this list, then you are not allowed to use a siren, no matter how rich or important you think you are. That means traditional rulers without special federal approval, local politicians, government workers, and private individuals are breaking the law if they use sirens. Even convoys for weddings and burials are not allowed to use them.
So why does this continue?
The simple answer is abuse of power. Many people use sirens not because there’s an emergency, but because they want to feel important or avoid traffic. It has become a way to show status, to make others feel small, and to act above the law.
In some cases, the police, who are supposed to stop the illegal use of sirens, are the ones escorting these convoys. They push other cars off the road, clear the way, and allow the misuse to continue without question.
This is not just wrong, it is dangerous. When sirens are used the wrong way, it affects everyone. People can no longer tell when a real emergency is happening. An ambulance carrying a patient may get stuck in traffic because nobody believes the siren is genuine. This can cost lives.
The noise from sirens has also become a serious problem. In towns and cities, the loud sound causes fear, disturbs sleep, and adds stress, especially at night. In some states like Lagos, the government has started to control noise pollution. But in many places like Taraba, the abuse continues without control.
Even though the law does not say sirens can only be used at certain times of the day, it clearly says they should only be used when there is a real reason, like an emergency or official duty. Using sirens for personal errands, meetings, parties, or simply to avoid traffic is against the law.
The Federal Road Safety Corps and the Nigeria Police Force are supposed to enforce these laws. They are allowed to seize illegal sirens, fine the offenders, and even impound their vehicles. But in reality, many of them look the other way, or even help the offenders. Some officers say they are under pressure from powerful people. Others just don’t care.
The government must take this issue seriously. Law enforcement officers should stop escorting illegal convoys and start doing their jobs. If someone is not allowed to use a siren, they should be stopped, no matter their title or position.
The public also has a role to play. People need to know the law and speak up when they see abuse. A siren is not a toy or a symbol of status. It is meant to help save lives. When it is misused, everyone is at risk.
Until things change, Nigerian roads will remain noisy, chaotic, and lawless, not because of emergencies, but because of ego, power, and the failure to respect the rules.
