The Lagos State Government on Friday reversed its earlier decision to
divert traffic and close roads during the visit of President
Muhammadu Buhari for the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential
rally in the state.
divert traffic and close roads during the visit of President
Muhammadu Buhari for the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential
rally in the state.
 |
| President Muhammadu Buhari |
The state’s Commissioner for Transportation, Mr Ladi Lawanson, at a
news conference in Alausa, said the earlier statement announcing
diversion and road closures had been reviewed, and residents were now
free to go about their businesses.
news conference in Alausa, said the earlier statement announcing
diversion and road closures had been reviewed, and residents were now
free to go about their businesses.
Lawanson, who is also a member of the transport sub-committee for the
Presidential visit and the APC rally, said Lagosians should jettison an
earlier announcement by the committee to the effect that there would be
road closures.
Presidential visit and the APC rally, said Lagosians should jettison an
earlier announcement by the committee to the effect that there would be
road closures.
He said: “Lagosians have been very apprehensive that there will be
traffic gridlock and we got a lot of feedback that we intend to grind
Lagos to a halt.
traffic gridlock and we got a lot of feedback that we intend to grind
Lagos to a halt.
“People are apprehensive; they think we are going to shut down Lagos;
they think movement will be restricted and they are bracing themselves
for what they anticipate will be the hardship that would be visited on
them by the president’s visit and our own activities.
they think movement will be restricted and they are bracing themselves
for what they anticipate will be the hardship that would be visited on
them by the president’s visit and our own activities.
“The purpose of this news conference is to clarify that and to state
emphatically that there will be from zero to minimal adverse effect of
the President’s visit on Saturday.
emphatically that there will be from zero to minimal adverse effect of
the President’s visit on Saturday.
.
“I repeat, there will be between zero to the barest minimum amount of
disruptions to the normal movement that Lagosians undertake on a
Saturday.
disruptions to the normal movement that Lagosians undertake on a
Saturday.
“So, there will not be any road closures in Lagos and
Lagosians are free to go about their normal businesses on
Saturday,” Lawanson said.
Lagosians are free to go about their normal businesses on
Saturday,” Lawanson said.
He said adequate arrangement had been firmed up to ensure free flow
of traffic, but that residents should expect tight security around the
routes which the President is expected to pass through in the course of
his visit, and the venue of the rally.
of traffic, but that residents should expect tight security around the
routes which the President is expected to pass through in the course of
his visit, and the venue of the rally.
“We will just like to communicate that because we are expecting a
high calibre personality no less a person than the President of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria, the normal security precautions that attend
a visit of this nature should be expected.
high calibre personality no less a person than the President of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria, the normal security precautions that attend
a visit of this nature should be expected.
“The President will visit Lagos on Saturday with the full retinue of
security aides that protect him and his entourage, but there will not be
any road closures and there will be zero to minimal disruptions of
normal activities,” the Commissioner said.
security aides that protect him and his entourage, but there will not be
any road closures and there will be zero to minimal disruptions of
normal activities,” the Commissioner said.
Lawanson said there will be huge presence of officials of the police,
Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), FRSC and other
agencies to ensure free flow of traffic around the Surulere axis.
Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), FRSC and other
agencies to ensure free flow of traffic around the Surulere axis.
“Around the venue of the rally, which is the Teslim Balogun Stadium
in Surulere, and the adjourning streets are traffic management agencies
such as LASTMA, FRSC, Police and other agencies that will support themon Saturday.
in Surulere, and the adjourning streets are traffic management agencies
such as LASTMA, FRSC, Police and other agencies that will support themon Saturday.
“They will handle the traffic management around the venue tomorrow
and so people can expect to see a huge presence of our traffic
management officers fully on ground to ensure that there is free flow of
traffic.
and so people can expect to see a huge presence of our traffic
management officers fully on ground to ensure that there is free flow of
traffic.
“We consider it important to clarify this so that we can communicate
to Lagosians and give them the assurance that Lagos and especially
Surulere will not be on lockdown,” the Commissioner said.
to Lagosians and give them the assurance that Lagos and especially
Surulere will not be on lockdown,” the Commissioner said.
General Manager of LASTMA, Mr Wale Musa, said tow trucks would be
deployed to promptly evacuate any broken down vehicle and adequate
personnel provided to tackle any gridlock that may arise from the
President’s visit and the activities around Surulere.
deployed to promptly evacuate any broken down vehicle and adequate
personnel provided to tackle any gridlock that may arise from the
President’s visit and the activities around Surulere.
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