Vehicular and pedestrian movement came to a standstill on Saturday morning at the Berger axis of Lagos as security operatives enforced a restriction order ahead of the local government elections across the state.
A Punch correspondent who monitored the development reported that dozens of commuters were left stranded as security officers blocked major access routes into Lagos as early as 7:32 a.m.
At the ever-busy Berger gateway, a joint team of policemen and Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) officials manned key points, turning back motorists and enforcing the 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. restriction imposed by the Lagos State Police Command to ensure a peaceful voting process.
Military patrol vans were also sighted along the expressway, adding to the heavy security presence. The barricade led to long queues of stationary vehicles, with many passengers resorting to trekking long distances to beat the restriction.
Some residents caught in the middle of the restriction expressed anger and confusion, claiming they had no prior knowledge of any planned lockdown.
One visibly frustrated commuter who spoke to a senior police officer at Berger said he had just arrived from Port Harcourt and was heading to Ikeja when he encountered the blockade.
“We are unaware that there was an election in the state. We are just coming from Port Harcourt. We are here for something. We are going to Ikeja,” the passenger said.
Despite his pleas, the officers denied him passage.
The Lagos Police Command had earlier issued a directive restricting movement across the state between 6 a.m. and 3 p.m. on election day, in line with guidelines for the local government polls being conducted by the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC).
The election is expected to produce new chairmen and councillors for the 20 Local Government Areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) across Lagos.