Despite the lockdown order in Lagos, FCT and Ogun State over the spread of the deadly coronavirus in the country, it seems people are beginning to undermine the importance of ‘stay at home order’. For some days now, just 7 days into the total lockdown that was supposed to last for 2 weeks, massive traffic is beginning to resurface in many parts of Lagos.
According to what we learnt, areas like Lekki-Epe Expressway and Eko Bridge are now experiencing high gridlock. The traffic was reportedly caused by the police officers, deployed to those areas to enforce the lockdown order issued by the Federal Government of Nigeria.
According to Bala Elkanah, the Police PRO in Lagos State, confirmed this recently in a report, saying:
“We narrowed the road and blocked it to ensure effective checking of vehicles before allowing them to pass.
Don’t forget that some essential workers are allowed to use the road and we have to allow them to pass.”
The Police PRO also disclosed that vehicles that were found to belong to non-essential motorists were impounded.
He further said:
“We impound the vehicles immediately. We have impounded over 500 vehicles and many vehicles were impounded from that area (Lekki) too.”
Other areas in Lagos where vehicles were impounded include Ogudu, Ojota, Maryland, Mile 12, Ketu,Agboyi and Alapere.
A road user reacting to this latest development, opened up on her personal experience in this massive gridlock, where she spent up to 5 hours.
She said:
“Yesterday, it took me eight hours to get to Lekki Phase One from Sangotedo to attend to an emergency at my clinic. Today again, the problem is even worse,”
Those on essential duty have reportedly blamed the massive gridlock amidst this lockdown order on those motorists that have flouted the order.