Fares rise, gridlock take over roads as Detty December crowds choke Lagos

The festive season is taking its toll on Lagosians, following the heavy traffic being experienced, especially in different parts of Victoria Island and Lekki

 

Lagosians were also forced to pay through their nose as transport fares went up by over two hundred per cent, reports Nigerian Tribune.

 

Meanwhile, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has described the congested traffic situation as a” normal thing.”

 

The traffic management agency also insisted that “no cause for alarm”, insisting that the traffic congestion is a ‘ moving one.“

 

Beginning from Friday afternoon, there was a lockdown in several parts of Lagos Island, and it became more intense on major roads in the state.

 

With a cluster of events at Onikan and the nightclubs’ activities along Ozumva Mbadiwe road and Lekki Epe expressway, it was a complete lockdown on the island

 

A resident, who simply identified himself as Akin, said, “An indication of what will happen started on Friday afternoon, when I was going to Iyana Ipaja from Maryland.

 

“Ordinarily, from Maryland to Ikeja used to be N200 (two hundred naira), but today, it has increased to N500 (five hundred naira).

 

“Iyana Ipaja, which used to be N500 (five hundred naira) from Maryland, was increased to N1500 (one thousand five hundred naira), and there were too many passengers rushing for it.”

 

Spokesperson of LASTMA, Adebayo Taofiq, insisted that the agency is working around the clock to control the situation

 

Adebayo said, ” It is a normal thing, especially with all the events and carnivals on the island. It is moving traffic. Our men are on the road controlling the traffic.

 

“There is no cause for alarm. Our men are working around the clock to manage the situation.”