January 20, (THE PORTWAY) — President Muhammadu Buhari will be in Lagos State for a two-day working visit from Monday, January 23 and Tuesday, January 24, to inaugurate projects undertaken by the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu led administration.
During the visit, the president will commission five iconic projects which includes; Lekki Deep Sea Port; the 32-metric tons per hour Lagos Rice Mill; Lagos Blue Line rail project, the 18.75-kilometer six-lane rigid-pavement Eleko Junction to Epe Expressway and the John Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture and History.
Buhari will also open a private sector project, the MRS Lubricant factory, in Apapa.
This disclosure was made by the Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy Gbenga Omotoso, while addressing newsmen on the government’s plans for the president’s visit.
At the press briefing, Omotoso was supported by Commissioner for Transport, Frederic Oladeinde, Special Advisers to the governor Mrs. Aramide Adeyoye (Works and Infrastructure) and Femi Martins (Tourism, Arts and Culture), General Manager of the Lagos Metropolitan Transport Authority (LAMATA) Abimbola Akinajo, and Permanent Secretaries Mrs. Oyinade Nathan-Mash (Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture) and Femi Osayintolu (LASEMA).
“Mr. President is scheduled to arrive in Lagos on Monday, January 23, via the Presidential Wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, where he will be received by Governor Sanwo-Olu, top government officials and dignitaries. There will be a short ceremony, which will include a cultural display, presentation of a bouquet and inspection of a guard of honour by the special guest.
“Thereafter, Mr. Governor will lead the guest to the Lekki Deep Sea Port for the official commissioning of the largest Sea Port in Sub-Saharan Africa. Mr. President and his host will be received at the Lekki Deep Sea Port by top government functionaries and board members of the Lekki Deep Sea Port. The chief host, Governor Sanwo-Olu, is expected to deliver a speech to formally welcome our guest to Lagos. There will be a tour of the Lekki Deep Sea Port facility by the President, Mr. Governor and other guests.
“The President is then expected to drive through and commission the newly constructed Eleko Junction to Epe road project before departing for the Lagos Rice Mill in Imota. He will take a tour of the Rice Mill – a solid testimony to the Lagos State government’s readiness to bridge the deficit in local rice production.
“We all know that Lagos is known for its remarkable hospitality and conviviality. These attributes will be on display in the evening of Monday January 23 during the state banquet to be organised in honour of our guest. Mr. Governor and his spouse, Mrs. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, will lead other dignitaries to give President Muhammadu Buhari a befitting Lagos welcome. There will be musical performances and other forms of entertainment to make the evening a very memorable one for Mr. President and all the invited guests.
“On day two (January 24), Mr. President will commission the MRS Lubricant factory, a private sector project in Apapa. He will depart Apapa for the John Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture and History for its commissioning. The John Randle Museum, a bold attempt to curate our history and culture, will afford the President an opportunity to interact with art enthusiasts, curators, historians and academia, and students who have been invited to the programme.
“After that, Mr. President will move to the Lagos Blue Line Rail Project in Marina, where different activities have been lined up for him. At the Blue Line Terminal, Mr. President will witness the signing of the second phase of the rail project, from Mile 2 to Okokomaiko. He will also commission the Phase I and take a train ride from Marina to Mile 2 and back, before departing for Abuja,” Omotoso said.
Influx of security operatives
The Commissioner for Information and Strategy also disclosed that the security personnel would be at strategic places to prevent unforeseen circumstances. He implored residents not to panic due to the influx of security operatives deployed for the presidential visits to the State as provided in developed countries.
Restriction of movement
The Commissioner for Transport, Frederic Oladeinde in a statement released by the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation, disclosed that Commissioner, Oladeinde assured that traffic will be restricted on the fixed date for the commissioning. He however, assured that alternative routes have been mapped out as well as the deployment of the State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA to manage Traffic flow during the two-day visit.
Dr. Oladeinde further said there would be restrictions on some roads including the Ademola Adetokunbo Road on Victoria Island from 6am to 3pm on Tuesday, January 24 and therefore urged motorists going to the Island to make use of the Falomo Bridge route.
He appealed to the motoring public to exercise patience and cooperate with traffic management personnel to ensure free vehicular movement
