Africa Live: Nigeria orders police to remove roadblock, Angolan leader to be sworn in

9:03

Nigeria's top policeman orders roadblocks dismantled

Nigeria's Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has ordered the immediate removal of all roadblocks on the country's highways, the Vanguard newspaper is reporting.

Mr Idris has also instructed all officers involved in vehicle patrols to ensure that they wear uniforms, clear name tags and service numbers.

A statement issued on Monday said the directives were necessary to make it easy for business to be conducted freely as well as to safeguard the free passage of travellers and goods.

According to the statement, no police department or unit should mount a roadblock without express permission of the Inspector General of Police.

Reports say teams of the special X-Squad of the police force have been deployed around the country with instructions to arrest and investigate any police personnel violating this directive.

The squads have also been ordered to be on the lookout for - and remove - and roadblocks set up by illegal revenue collectors, road transport unions, labour or trade associations.

9:00

Angola to get new president

Angola will swear in a new president later today, the first time there has been a change in leader for nearly four decades.

João Lourenço, a former defence minister, will replace Jose Eduardo Dos Santos who stood down in August after 38 years in power.

BBC Africa editor James Copnall says that while there is a real desire for change, a radical shift is unlikely as Mr Lourenço has been at the heart of the governing MPLA (Popular Liberation Movement of Angola) party for decades.

Mr Dos Santos will retain control over the party with the right to choose the police chief and head of the army.

Critics say his children - including Africa's richest woman, Isabel Dos Santos - have been positioned to control the economy.

Despite Angola's oil wealth, inequality remains striking. The new president - and the old system - will face a desire for real change, our correspondent says.

The MPLA has governed Angola since it gained independence from Portugal in 1975.

8:57