The Lagos State Government has declared Thursday, 29th March, 2018 as a work free day in the State.
According to the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Kehinde Bamigbetan, that will enable Lagosians come out enmasse to welcome President Muhammadu Buhari who is on a historic two-day visit to Lagos State. He also urged residents to adhere to the security guidance earlier announced to make the visit peaceful and orderly.
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Imohimi Edgal, at a press briefing held at Lagos House in Alausa, Ikeja, announced diversion of traffic in some affected routes. He assured that adequate preparations have been made to mitigate the impact of the road diversions on residents, while access will be given to any emergency situation.
CP Edgal, who addressed the briefing alongside heads of security and emergency agencies in the State, said while in Lagos, that President Buhari will commission the new Ikeja Bus Terminal, attend a colloquium in honour of the National Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and as well embark on a tour of the Eko Atlantic City, among others.
According to the CP, “To ensure smooth, security-free visit of the President, we will need to do some diversions. Some roads will be closed at certain times and some diversions will be made but I want to use this opportunity to appeal for the support and understanding of Lagosians that this temporary road closures and diversions might cause little inconveniences.
“We want the people to bear with us to ensure that we all join hands together to make the visit of Mr. President not only hitch-free but also very memorable. The road closures and diversions will be very temporary and immediately the President leaves a certain location, that area will be opened very quickly for the general public. We have also made adequate arrangements to mitigate the impact of the closures on residents,” he said.
He listed the areas to be affected to include Bank Anthony Way in Ikeja, Agege Motor Road, a section of Eko Hotel Road in Victoria Island and Old Marina in Ikoyi axis. CP Edgal hinted that security arrangements were already in top gear and that people will see a lot of deployment of personnel of both military and civil logistics adding that it is nothing to worry about.
“We have done the necessary threat assessments; we have reached out to all stakeholders in areas that we believe we should reach out to in order to ensure their full cooperation. We are using this opportunity to call again on the Okada Unions and the National Union of Road Transport Workers that they must abide with the terms of agreement we reached during meetings with them regarding the visit.
“We will not want to see commercial motorcycles plying the prohibited routes of Agege Motor Road, Bank Anthony Way and anywhere on the Island. Should that order be disobeyed, we will be constrained to ensure that the people are arrested with your motorcycles impounded. Whoever is found as a passenger will also be arrested and prosecuted. So do not patronize these Okadas on these prohibited routes not only for the purpose of the visit but also to ensure that Lagos State Laws on the regulation of commercial motorbikes are obeyed at all times,” Edgal said.
He added that three locations have been designated for all first emergency responders to station their equipment and officials including the Police, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), LASAMBUS, Civil Defence, Fire Brigade, among others at Ikeja, Victoria Island and Free Trade Zone at Lekki-Akodo axis.