Tourism
President Bola Tinubu’s go back to Lagos on Tuesday night set off rush hour around the Murtala Muhammed International Airport and adjacent parts of the city as security operatives limited motion on roadways along his path.
The limitations started before 5 p.m. and left vehicle drivers and commuters stranded for hours, with traffic developing around the airport and paths connecting the airport to Lagos Island, Ikoyi and the Third Mainland Bridge.
Mr Tinubu got here in Lagos from Paris, France, after investing about 4 weeks in Europe on what the presidency referred to as a working trip.
His Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, revealed his return previously on Tuesday.
Mr Onanuga specified that the president selected to return through Lagos to honour the memory of the late Chief MKO Abiola, whom the federal government identifies as the winner of the annulled 12 June 1993 governmental election.
“On Independence Day, the President will participate in the best of a motion picture honouring Abiola, the winner of the June 1993 election, at the Wole Soyinka National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos.
“While in Lagos, President Tinubu will likewise hold tactical conferences with politicians and partners over numerous days in preparation for the 2027 elections,”he stated.
Lagosians groan
The traffic limitations drew problems from drivers and citizens who were captured in the gridlock.
A Lagos-based attorney, Inibehe Effiong, who got here in Lagos on Tuesday, criticised the limitations in posts on his X manage.
“I simply got here in Lagos and this is the sort of insanity that is going on at the Lagos airport,”he stated.
“How can the busiest airport in the business capital of a nation be placed on lockdown for hours due to the fact that an absentee President is on his method back to the nation? “
Mr Effiong questioned whether the president’s security might be handled without subjecting other visitors to extended hold-ups.
“Why subject people and immigrants to this long horrendous treatment when Tinubu’s aircraft is not even on the ground yet?” he asked.
“Is this the very best method to secure him? Exists no much better method to handle the governmental motion in this nation?”
Other vehicle drivers likewise required to social networks to alert individuals taking a trip towards the airport.
“Just passed the airport now and obviously Tinubu is returning and all over is obstructed. Prevent airport roadway,” @ama_rachi published on X.
Another user, @Ghost4570Ghost, criticised the scale of the disturbance, composing: “I do not comprehend how an entire state motion would be closed down since of the president’s arrival.”
Moses Nwankechukwu remembered a previous traffic occurrence around the Abuja airport, stating he as soon as needed to help a pregnant lady who ended up being ill after being captured in traffic on the Lugbe airport roadway.
“Last year in November, that’s how a buddy’s better half who was pregnant got ill around 6pm. I was contacted us to assist due to the fact that his cars and truck was at the mechanic. Na so I bring a pregnant ill female to stand there till 9pm,” he composed.
Some users, nevertheless, stated traffic constraints throughout governmental motions were not uncommon.
“Experience Lagos traffic. It’s our way of life,” Damola Oladipo composed.
King Ekem on Facebook likewise argued that security plans for heads of federal government might include short-lived roadway closures and traffic constraints, stating comparable procedures were utilized in other nations throughout the motions of their leaders.
READ ALSO: I’m healthy, all set to work, Tinubu states on return from four-week holiday
Jonathan remembers preventing Lagos traffic
The interruption has actually reminded mind current remarks by previous President Goodluck Jonathan about how he dealt with motion around Lagos while he was president.
The previous president spoke on 14 September while he was chairing the 13th Anniversary Olusegun Agagu Memorial Lecture at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos. The occasion was kept in honour of the memory of previous Ondo State Governor Agagu, who passed away on 13 September 2013, aged 65.
In a video shared by Splash FM 105.5, Mr Jonathan remembered throughout the occasion that he took pleasure in going to Lagos however did not like the traffic issues that might emerge from governmental motions.
He specified that managing traffic for a governmental convoy might trigger substantial disturbance to other roadway users, which was why he frequently utilized a helicopter after getting to the Lagos airport.
“Even when I remained in workplace I enjoyed concerning Lagos however I likewise did not like pertaining to Lagos. Due to the fact that if you as a sitting president, entered Lagos and you try to manage traffic for VIP motion, the sort of turmoil you would establish in the city would be a lot,” he stated.
“So when I land at the airport, I would utilize a helicopter to fly to the President’s Residence. And if I have a program throughout Lagos, I would utilize a helicopter to land near that location; I do not drive.”
Mr Jonathan’s account highlights the traffic issues that governmental motions can develop in Lagos, where roadway constraints impacting a governmental convoy can likewise impact great deals of other roadway users.
Discover more from Premium Times Nigeria
Sign up for get the most recent posts sent out to your e-mail.
Discover more from PMN S.P.O.R.T.S - A PRIME MEDIA NETWORK BRAND
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
