Road closures, diversions ahead of presidential visit deepen traffic chaos in Lagos
Traffic crisis in Lagos on Wednesday went berserk following several road closures and diversions ahead of ensuring smooth movement of the Presidential entourage as President Muhammdu Buhari begins a two-state visit today.
President Buhari would be in Lagos on a two-day official visit on Thursday, March 29 and Friday, March 30.
Checks by Business Hilights correspondents around major parts of the state showed roads have been cleared along several construction sites in Lagos to free traffic at least within the period of the visit.
However, diversions and closures temporarily done by the Police on Wednesday, started causing traffic lock jam especially around Mile 2 axis as the entire area was motionless extending up to Oshodi and many parts of Ikeja.
Already, Lagos State Government has declared today, Thursday, March 29, a work-free day in the State ahead of the two-day visit to the state to commission some projects including the Lekki deep seaport.
A statement by Kehinde Bamigbetan, Commissioner for Information and Strategy, said the declaration was to enable residents to come out en masse to welcome President Buhari.
Besides, the major cause of the traffic inconveniences on Wednesday may be traced to the fact that residents are struggling to hit their bases considering the fact that the Thursday’s public holiday in Lagos will link up the federal government’s public holiday on Friday and Monday.
Otherwise, Lagos residents now have three straight work-free days plus weekend to play with.
Apart from the traditional traffic crisis that usually characterize public holidays that are declared on Fridays, the temporary diversions and road closures announced by the State Commissioner of Police, Imohimi Edgal, may have complicated the intractable gridlocks the more on Wednesday.
Details gathered from the Police showed that affected roads include Ikeja, Agege, Maryland, Ikoyi, and Victoria Island.
The Police commissioner said that President Buhari would be attending a colloquium marking the 66th birthday of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu at Victoria Island, and also be at the official flag-off ceremony for the construction of the Lekki Deep Sea Port Project in Epe.
The President would also tour the Eko Atlantic City and inaugurate the Ikeja Bus Terminal, among other engagements.
