The usual early morning traffic jam on major roads in Lagos
was on Saturday absent as motorists and commuters moved freely from one part of
the state to another.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that President
Muhammadu Buhari is on a visit to the state to hold a campaign rally of the All
Progressives Congress (APC).
With the free flow of traffic, a huge crowd had gathered at
the Teslim Balogun Stadium venue of rally in Surulere as at 11.a.m., awaiting
the arrival of the president.
NAN reports that the Saturday rally had generated
apprehension about heavy traffic following the announcement by the state
government on Wednesday that it would close no fewer than 18 major routes
including Ikorodu Road and Third Mainland Bridge.
The state government, however, made a U-turn on Friday when
it said the movements would no longer be restricted.
NAN correspondent who monitored traffic on major roads
reports there was free flow of traffic of people and vehicles as of 10am.
On Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, the traffic was unusually
free, as there were very few vehicles on the road.
Commercial motorcyclists who make brisk business from the
traffic around Cement and Mongoro bus stops recorded little patronage as there
very few commuters.
Around Ikeja along and Ile-zik which are traffic flash
points on a normal day, motorists had smooth rides as traffic was light.
The situation was the same up till Oshodi bus stop ,where
commercial activities were low at the popular Arena Market and Oshodi main
market.
On Agege motor road, from Mushin through Idi-Oro and
Ojuelegba ,commercial buses waited at bus stops to pick the few customers they
could manage to get.
Also on Ikorodu road, driving was exciting as traffic was
very light from Onipanu, Palmgrove and Obanikoro and other areas.
However, the was a bit of traffic jam around Stadium bus
stop, by Teslim Balogun Stadium as party faithful and residents were seen in
many buses arriving at the rally venue.
NAN reports that security was tight at the venue of the
rally as they were so many security personnel strategically stationed,
screening people.
Hundreds of policemen and soldiers were seen moving around
the stadium to ensure security, while some were riding on horses, others were
holding sniffer dogs.
The stadium was almost filled to capacity as of 11am as
thousands of party faithful in APC uniforms had arrived waiting for the arrival
of the president.
Traders were seen making brisk business from sale of brooms,
APC branded caps, vests and flutes.
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