Rivers entertainment personality and philanthropist Brian Jonah Dennis made a revealing observation after sharing his personal views on how policing differs between Abuja and Port Harcourt.
The philanthropist, in his eight years of living in Abuja and active participation in the city’s nightlife scene, described how police officers operate in the Federal Capital Territory compared to other parts of the country.
Dennis said that police officers in Abuja rarely stop motorists to request driver’s licenses particulars during movements. He stated that such responsibilities are generally associated with agencies like the Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO) and the Federal Road Safety Corps.
“In my 8 years of living in Abuja, as someone that actively participates in night life, police have never asked me for Drivers license or car particulars. It is a job for VIO and Road Safety,” he stated.
Dennis also observed that daytime police checkpoints are uncommon in Abuja, adding that roadblocks are usually linked to directed operations targeting specific vehicles rather than general stop-and-search enforcement.
“Police do not mount road blocks or checkpoints in Abuja during the day.
“The only time you’ll see a police checkpoint in the daytime in Abuja is when they are acting on intelligence for a particular brand of car. If their intelligence is looking for a Corolla, then it’s only Corollas they will stop.”
“At night, you’ll find police checkpoints in strategic places in Abuja, they only want you to turn on your inner lights and check if the passengers of your car are riding with you on their own volition.”
Dennis further added that searches are usually only conducted if something appears suspicious. he contrasted this with what he experiences in Port Harcourt and other southern states, where he believes policing feels more aggressive. He said, “If you look suspicious, you’ll be subjected to a search of your vehicle and that’s it.
“In most states in the south, this is different. Your heart skips a beat anytime you see a police checkpoint even when you have nothing to incriminate you. Port harcourt police will ask you for a document they do not issue all because they are looking for ways to extort you.”
“Why is the police in Abuja different from the police in Port harcourt? Are they operating on different rules? Why does the police in Port harcourt mount roadblocks to check for car papers during the day but the police in Abuja do not? You cannot reform this.”
