Lagos deploys 500 additional LASTMA officers ahead of Tinubu’s visit

The Lagos State Government says it will deploy 500 additional personnel of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) to major roads and critical corridors ahead of President Bola Tinubu’s visit to the state on April 8 and April 9.

The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Gbenga Omotoso, disclosed this on Monday during a news conference on the President’s proposed visit for the inauguration of key projects executed by the Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration.

Omotoso said the move was part of measures to ensure seamless traffic flow, adequate security and minimal disruption to residents during the visit.

“We are working closely with federal and state agencies to ensure that all arrangements for the President’s visit are seamless, secure and befitting of the occasion.

“Security, logistics and traffic management plans are being carefully coordinated to minimise disruptions to daily activities while ensuring the safety and comfort of all participants,” he said.

He urged residents to cooperate with authorities and comply with traffic advisories and security guidelines that would be issued ahead of the visit.

“We urge residents to cooperate with authorities during this period, particularly in adhering to traffic advisories and security guidelines that will be communicated in due course.

“Your understanding and support are essential to the success of this important event,” Omotoso said.

Also, General Manager, LASTMA, Mr Olalekan Bakare-Oki, said the agency had concluded plans to deploy 500 additional officers to strategic routes to manage vehicular movement during the president’s stay in Lagos.

Bakare-Oki said the personnel would be positioned across major roads and project corridors to ensure effective traffic control and reduce inconvenience to commuters.

According to him, the deployment is part of a broader inter-agency traffic management strategy to support the smooth conduct of the state visit and project commissioning ceremonies.

He said LASTMA would intensify monitoring and enforcement on affected routes, while alternative traffic arrangements would be communicated to the public in good time.

Bakare-Oki appealed to motorists to cooperate with traffic officers and obey temporary diversions that might be introduced during the two-day visit.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Tinubu is expected to inaugurate several landmark projects executed by the Sanwo-Olu/Obafemi Hamzat administration.

They include the Ojota/Opebi Link Bridge, the Lagos State Geographic Information Service Building, the Alausa Multi-Agency Complex named after the President, the Tolu Schools Complex in Ajegunle and the Mid-Level Agro-Produce Hub in Abijo, Ibeju-Lekki, along the Lekki-Epe Motorway.

Omotoso said the projects reflected the administration’s strategic investment in transportation, infrastructure, education and public sector development.

“These projects have been carefully conceived and executed to address the growing needs of our population, ease mobility, stimulate economic activities and enhance social welfare.

“They are a testament to our unwavering commitment to building a Greater Lagos, one that is inclusive, sustainable and globally competitive,” he said.

On the Tolu Schools Complex, Omotoso said the facility in Ajegunle comprised 36 public schools, 31 secondary schools and five primary schools on about 11.73 hectares in Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government Area.

He said the complex, which serves about 20,000 pupils, had undergone a major transformation after decades of dilapidation.

According to him, 13 additional classroom blocks and 24 school buildings were constructed to reduce the student-to-classroom ratio from 70:1 to 50:1.

While facilities such as an ICT hub, central laboratory, sports facilities, health centre, solar panels and inclusive buildings for persons living with disabilities were also provided.

On the Alausa Multi-Agency Complex, Omotoso said the facility was designed to improve service delivery by bringing multiple government agencies into one integrated environment within the administrative hub of Ikeja.

He said the complex sat on 2.01 hectares of land and consisted of four blocks, a penthouse for meetings and conferences, and parking space for 300 vehicles.

Speaking on the Opebi-Ojota Link Bridge, the commissioner said the 5.04-kilometre project was conceived to address long-standing traffic challenges around Ojota, Maryland, Mende, Opebi and Allen within the Ikeja metropolitan zone.

He said the project, originally conceived over 20 years ago during Tinubu’s tenure as governor of Lagos State, was revived and flagged off by Sanwo-Olu in January 2022.

Omotoso said the president’s visit further underscored the strong partnership between the federal government and Lagos State, as well as the importance of continuity in governance.

Present at the briefing were the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Ms Abisola Olusanya, and the Special Advisers on Works and Infrastructure, Dr Adekunle Olayinka and Mr Femi Daramola.

Mr Gboyega Akosile, special adviser to the Lagos State governor on media and publicity, in his closing remarks urged residents to abide by the instructions given by LASTMA officers. (NAN)

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