AKWA IBOM POLICE BAN DRONES, FIREWORKS AHEAD OF TINUBU’S VISIT, IMPOSE TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS IN UYO

The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has announced a ban on drone operations, fireworks and other explosive sound-producing devices across Uyo ahead of President Bola Tinubu’s one-day working visit to the state on Friday, November 6, 2026, as security agencies prepare for the president’s arrival, scheduled project inaugurations and a political rally organized by the All Progressives Congress. The restrictions, announced by the state Commissioner of Police, Baba Mohammed Azare, on Thursday, also include temporary limitations on movement along major roads and access to strategic locations in the state capital.

Azare disclosed the measures during a press briefing at the Police Headquarters in Ikot Akpan Abia, Uyo, describing them as part of a coordinated security operation intended to protect residents, secure sensitive locations and ensure the smooth movement of the presidential convoy. He said the command was working with other security agencies and relevant stakeholders to prevent criminal activity and maintain public order throughout the visit. The commissioner warned that the police would respond decisively to any attempt to disrupt the president’s engagements or create a security threat.

Under the directive, the operation and flying of drones within Uyo metropolis will be prohibited throughout the period of the presidential visit. The restriction applies to members of the public, drone operators and service providers, meaning that individuals and organizations intending to use aerial recording equipment during the visit will have to suspend those activities unless they have specific authorization from the relevant security authorities. The police said the measure was intended to protect restricted airspace, safeguard strategic locations and reduce the possibility of a security breach during the president’s movement.

The command has also prohibited fireworks, knockouts and other explosive sound-producing devices within the state capital during the visit. According to the commissioner, the ban is intended to prevent unnecessary panic and avoid distractions that could make it more difficult for security personnel to identify and respond to genuine threats. Explosive sounds can create confusion in crowded environments, particularly when a presidential convoy is moving through areas where security officers are monitoring public gatherings and access points. The police therefore want residents and business operators to avoid activities that could be mistaken for an emergency or interfere with security operations.

Traffic restrictions will form another significant part of the arrangements. The police have identified Airport Road, Shelter Afrique Junction, Oron Road, Nung Oku Junction, Mbierebe Junction and the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium among the routes and locations expected to be affected by temporary access restrictions. Motorists and other road users have been advised to avoid the designated corridors during the restriction period and make alternative travel arrangements. Residents have also been urged to plan their journeys ahead of time, exercise patience and comply with instructions from officers deployed to manage traffic and security.

The restrictions are expected to affect commuters, commercial drivers, businesses and residents who regularly use the affected roads to move around Uyo. Airport Road is particularly important because of its connection to Victor Attah International Airport, where the president is expected to attend activities connected to the state's aviation infrastructure. The Oron Road corridor and other designated junctions also serve as important movement routes within the capital. Although the measures are temporary, the police have acknowledged that they may disrupt normal movement and have appealed for public cooperation to reduce inconvenience.

The president's visit is expected to combine official government engagements with political activities. Tinubu is scheduled to commission several infrastructure projects completed or developed under the administration of Governor Umo Eno, including the new terminal building at Victor Attah International Airport, the Aviation Village, the Ring Road III Extension and Arise Resort Park in Uyo. The projects form part of the state government's broader infrastructure and development agenda, with the administration presenting them as investments intended to improve transportation, tourism, connectivity and economic activity.

The new terminal building at Victor Attah International Airport is among the most prominent projects expected to feature during the visit. The facility is part of the state's efforts to expand its aviation infrastructure and strengthen the airport's capacity to support passenger movement and economic activity. The Aviation Village is another component of the airport-related development programme, while the Ring Road III Extension is intended to improve road connectivity and movement within the state. Arise Resort Park is linked to the government's tourism and leisure development ambitions.

Tinubu is also expected to attend a political rally organized by the APC as the country moves toward the 2027 general elections. The rally adds a political dimension to the visit, which is otherwise being presented by the state government as an opportunity to showcase completed infrastructure and development projects. The combination of presidential engagements, project inaugurations and party activities is expected to attract political supporters, government officials, security personnel and visitors to Uyo, increasing the need for coordinated traffic and crowd management.

Azare has appealed to political parties other than the APC to consider rescheduling any activities planned for Friday. He said the request was intended to prevent a possible breakdown of law and order during the president's visit. The appeal places particular emphasis on avoiding competing political gatherings that could create congestion or security challenges while the presidential convoy is moving through the state capital. The police have not described the request as a general suspension of political activity across Akwa Ibom, but have urged parties to cooperate with the temporary arrangements.

The commissioner said the command would not tolerate attempts to disrupt the visit or cause public disorder. He assured residents that security personnel had been deployed in coordination with other agencies and were prepared to respond to any threat. He also urged members of the public to remain law-abiding, stay away from restricted locations and report suspicious movements or security concerns to the nearest police station or through established emergency channels.

The security measures come as Nigerian police and other agencies routinely increase deployments around presidential movements, particularly when visits involve large public gatherings, political events and travel through busy urban areas. Such operations generally require coordination between police formations, intelligence units, traffic officers and other security services to manage access to venues and protect the movement of the president. In Akwa Ibom, the drone and fireworks restrictions are being presented by the command as preventive measures rather than a response to a publicly identified or confirmed threat.

Nevertheless, the scale of the restrictions means that residents will have to make practical adjustments to their movements on Friday. People travelling to the airport, businesses operating along affected routes and commuters who depend on the designated corridors have been advised to seek alternative routes and allow additional time for their journeys. The police have also urged residents not to approach restricted areas unnecessarily and to cooperate with officers managing access and traffic.

The visit will provide the Tinubu administration with an opportunity to engage with the Akwa Ibom government and participate in the inauguration of projects that the state administration considers central to its development programme. It will also bring national attention to the infrastructure investments being made under Governor Eno, particularly in aviation, roads and tourism. The extent to which the new facilities translate into improved services, increased economic activity and long-term benefits for residents will depend on their operation, maintenance and integration into the state's wider development plans.

For the police, the immediate responsibility is to ensure that the visit proceeds without disruption while minimizing the impact of security arrangements on the daily lives of residents. The command has urged the public to comply with the temporary restrictions and use alternative routes, while assuring residents that its personnel are prepared to deal with security incidents. The drone and fireworks ban, together with the movement restrictions, will remain in effect during the period specified for the presidential visit.

Tinubu's arrival on Friday is therefore expected to bring heightened security activity to Uyo as the state prepares for the inauguration of major infrastructure projects and the APC rally. Residents have been asked to cooperate with security personnel, avoid restricted roads and locations, and suspend drone operations and the use of fireworks or similar devices during the visit. The police have emphasized that the measures are intended to protect lives and property, maintain public order and facilitate the president's scheduled engagements.