Many residents of Lagos
are groaning as a result of the vehicular restriction on major roads in the
state, compounding the traffic gridlock in the metropolitan city.
TheCable
report continues:
The
roads were blocked because of President Muhammadu Buhari’s two-day visit to the
state.
As
part of measures to control the traffic situation, the Lagos state
government declared Thursday a work-free day. It also announced that roads
leading to some of the projects the president would inaugurate would be shut. The
projects are the Lekki Deep Sea, Eko Atlantic City, Ikeja Bus Terminus, among
others.
But
residents who woke up as early as 4am where still trapped as commercial buses
and other unauthorized vehicles were restricted from plying the Agege Motor
Road, Airport Road, Mobolaji Bank-Anthony Way, Eko Hotel Round about and
different spots in the city.
Security
operatives also mounted strategic places around the Murtala Muhammed
International Airport, and various locations across the state.
Banners
and billboards with the president’s photographs were also put up along the
roads, while many of his supporters lined across the roads.
Most
of the passengers trekked long distance before getting to the airport.
Some
airlines had to delay their flights to enable passengers meet up. In a
statement, Air Peace said the traffic diversion was affecting its operation.
The airline also empathized with its passengers.
“We
empathize with our esteemed guests who are having a challenge accessing the
airport to catch their flights due to the diversion of traffic at various
points In Lagos,” the statement read.
“This
is currently affecting flights out of our base in Lagos despite the
availability and readiness of our crew to operate their flights.
“We
urge our valued guests to remain calm, while we monitor the development and
take steps to minimize the impact of the resulting flight disruptions.”
Kehinde
Adebowale, a Lagos resident told TheCable that she trekked a distance of two
kilometers on her way to work on Thursday.
“I
trekked from Ile-Zik after Cement Bus Stop to Alausa (a journey of three
kilometres). I have not done such since I started working five years ago,” she
said.
“No
matter the excuse given, it’s not fair for us to be treated like this because
of one man. Just one man.”
Ayebo
Olubunmi, another resident, lamented the effect of the closure of major roads
on people during Easter period.
“I
am supposed to go to church in Yaba but I am trapped in Egbeda just because Mr
President is inaugurating some projects. Is he greater than God?” she asked.
“How
on earth could they have disrupted our plans because of a man who is supposed
to be serving us? I do not have words to describe how I feel over this callous
act.”
In
his reaction, Adewale Martins, Catholic archbishop of Lagos, described
the president’s visit as ill-timed.
In
a statement signed by Gabriel Osu, director of social communications, the
archbishop lamented that the president’s visit coincided with the “most
important days of the year for Christians when they celebrate the events of the
salvation of the world”.
He
said Christians would be subjected to “untold hardships” due to the closure of
roads and the ban of commercial motorcycles on many routes.
“It
is really unfortunate that the timing of the visit would create such hardships
for people and deprive some of their right to worship and take part in the most
important feast of their faith,” he said.
This
is the president’s first official visit to the state since his emergence in
2015.
Address Delivered
At The Official Commissioning Of Ikeja Bus Terminal
March 29, 2018
On behalf
of the people of Lagos State, I welcome His Excellency, the President of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, to the commissioning of
this modern edifice which signposts our commitment to reforming our public
transport infrastructure and management in our State.
Mr.
President, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, in the last three years we have
committed to revamping and providing a new integrated transport system to
support our growing population. We have initiated and completed the provision
of infrastructure that are scalable and would support the daily needs of our
people to meet their connectivity and mobility needs.
The Ikeja
Bus Terminal is one of our flagship transport infrastructure under the State
Bus Reform Initiative. The first phase of this programme will see 13 new Bus
terminals introduced including major terminals at Oshodi, Yaba, Ojota, Agege
and the already completed Tafawa Balewa Bus Terminal.
We have
commenced the introduction of 5,000 new buses into the Lagos economy in the
next 3 years. We will inject 820 environmentally-friendly high capacity buses
in the first phase of this reform by September 2018, 300 New Bus Stops, 3 Bus
Depots, and Intelligent Transport System which will aid Lagosians to plan their
journeys on our public transport system.
On behalf
of the people of Lagos State, I want to publicly acknowledge the approval of
Mr. President, for the import-duty waiver received on the buses in the Phase
One of this programme with a further step that the next phase will be assembled
here in Lagos to create jobs for our people. Our goal is to have the Assembly
Plants within the next 20 months in Lagos.
Our
concentration is not only on bus/road transportation. We are promoting
Non-Motorised Transport such as walking and cycling paths to give our people
modal choices while promoting healthy living.
Work is
ongoing on the 27-kilometre Blue Line Rail project from Okokomaiko West of
Lagos to Marina in Central Lagos. We are in discussions with various investors
and stakeholders on our urban rail project, the Red Line from Alagbada to
Marina.
Mr.
President, the success of a highly populated, cosmopolitan smart city-State
like Lagos is strongly dependent on the efficiency of its transportation
system. We are committed to a functional, efficient and integrated transport
system which will support our population and facilitate our commerce. We will
continually work till we achieve this objective and we will always count on
your usual support, Sir.
It is now my great pleasure to invite our President, Muhammadu Buhari, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to formally commission the Ikeja Bus Terminal.
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