SAN FRANCISCO, October 14, (THEWILL) – Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA has advised Lagosians to stay home while the #SARSMUSTEND protests last, or avoid certain routes if they must go out.
General Manager of LASTMA ,Olajide Ojuyoye said on Wednesday, while advising everyone to explore other means of communication.
He noted that it was “extremely difficult” to control traffic, as LASTMA have to be careful on the safety aspect of things, otherwise it would “seem like we are against their mission; we have to strike a balance.”
According to the LASTMA boss, “We are in this situation right now. So if where you are going is not paramount or of ultimate importance, I think you should abort and postpone.
“The protesters are fluid. They can block any road at any time. Do whatever you need to do by other means of communication. Except you are an employee and your employer forces you to come to work. You should avoid Muri Okunola, Alausa, Ozumba Mbadiwe. To access the island, use the 3rd Mainland Bridge-Nnamdi Azikiwe-Eko Hotel route”, he added
“To return, go through Ojota-7up-Magodo and then walk. But as I said earlier, the protesters’ movements are fluid.”
Ojuyoye said “it is pretty difficult to control traffic as protesters lock down roads. He said there is basically nothing to control as road users have to make use of one-way in order to avoid blocked roads.
He cautioned that it was a time when “we all have to be really careful and have a complete understanding of what is on ground because no one is going anywhere wherever protesters have blocked.”
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Meanwhile, protests against police brutality and extra-judicial killings continue on Wednesday with a new hashtag #EndSWAT.
The protest follows the decision of the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, to set up a new unit called the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team, to replace the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Unit (SARS).
According to the protesters, the agitation continues because the decision to immediately replace SARS operatives with SWAT is hasty and unpremeditated.
“All hashtags remain valid towards the struggle. Be vigilant. This is about all of us. We are all in pains right now but don’t let those we have lost die in vain. I saw the SWAT thing. Hasty. But will address,” #EndSARS convener, Segun Awosanya, popularly known as Segalinks tweeted on Wednesday morning.
At the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos, protesters chanted songs of solidarity despite the early morning rain.
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