Viral Facebook posts are circulating, claiming that overtaking a military convoy in Nigeria is illegal and punishable under the law, citing various legal provisions.
One such post includes a detailed article that begins with the following paragraph: “Overtaking a military convoy is a serious offence in Nigeria, punishable under various laws. This article explores the consequences of overtaking a military convoy under Nigerian law.”
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The Nigerian military, formally known as the Nigerian Armed Forces, is made up of three branches: the Army, tasked with ground operations and safeguarding the country’s land; the Navy, responsible for patrolling and defending Nigeria’s maritime borders; and the Air Force, which oversees aerial operations.
The assertion that overtaking a military convoy is a violation of Nigerian law has gained significant attention online and has been posted here, here and here. (Note: See more instances listed at the end of this report.)
But is it a punishable offence? We checked.
No law supports this – false claim
The viral posts referenced laws like the Armed Forces Act, the Road Traffic Act, and the National Security Agencies Act, claiming they prohibit overtaking military convoys and impose penalties for doing so.
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To verify this, Africa Check reviewed the mentioned acts but found no mention of overtaking military convoys or any associated punishments.
The Armed Forces Act is concerned with disciplining military personnel, not civilians, meaning it does not apply to the general public.
The National Security Agencies Act consists of only eight sections, none of which address traffic violations. Similarly, the Road Traffic Act does not include provisions about overtaking military vehicles.
Further research, including a search for official documents or news about penalties for overtaking military convoys, revealed no supporting evidence for the claim.
However, we did find a post by TV host Rufai Oseni, who debunked the claim with input from legal expert Opatola Victor Esquire.
This misinformation could cause unnecessary concern and mislead people into believing they are breaking the law.
While it’s advisable to exercise caution around military convoys for safety reasons, overtaking them is not illegal.
The same claim can be found here, here, here, here, here and here.
Credit: Africa Check
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