Lagos cancels plan to close roads for Buhari’s rally

The Lagos state government has reversed the decision to close 18
major roads for the campaign visit of President Muhammadu
Buhari.

Buhari is expected in Lahos, on Saturday, for the grand finale
of his reelection campaign across states.

Demola Seraki, a former minister of state for defence and
chairman, transport committee of Buhari’s campaign visit to the
state, had said access would be restricted on 18 major roads in the
state.

Seriki had said movement would be diverted on the roads to
prevent motorists and commuters from being stranded.

But at a press conference in Alausa on Friday, Ladi Lawanson,
commissioner for information, said there would no longer be road
closure.

Lawanson asked residents to feel free to go about their
businesses.

“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,” he said.

“People are apprehensive; they think we are going to shut down
Lagos; they think movement would be restricted and they are bracing
themselves for what they anticipate would be the hardship that
would be visited on them by the president’s visit and our own
activities.

“The purpose of this press conference is to clarify that and to
state emphatically that there will be from zero to minimal adverse
effect of the President’s visit tomorrow. I repeat, there will be
between zero to the barest minimum amount of disruptions to the
normal movement that Lagosians undertake on a Saturday like
tomorrow.

“So, there will not be any road closures in Lagos tomorrow and
Lagosians are free to go about their normal businesses tomorrow,
Saturday.”

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.