Yuletide: Traffic lightens on Lagos roads

The usual heavy traffic on Lagos roads, especially in the mornings, was on Monday absent as motorists drove freely across different routes, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.
A NAN correspondent, who monitored the traffic situation in the metropolis, reported that some traffic flash points were devoid of the usual chaotic gridlock.
The entire stretch of Iyana-Ipaja to Oshodi on the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway was unusually free as motorists drove through with minimal stops.
Even the ongoing construction of a pedestrian bridge at the Cement Bus Stop, which had been a source of traffic jam on the section, did not affect free vehicular movements.
The situation was the same on Ayobo-Ipaja Road as motorists coming from Ayetoro, Ayobo, Ishefun and others spent little time getting to Iyana-Ipaja.
Also, motorists drove smoothly on the Old Ipaja Road to areas like Alausa and Ojota.
The usual bumper-to-bumper traffic on Ikorodu Road was completely absent as motorists had smooth drive through Western Avenue, Victoria Island and other areas.
NAN observed that traffic was also light on the Apapa-Ijora Road axis as well as the Old Ipaja Road.
Emeka Arinze, a commercial driver in Jibowu, said the light traffic was due to large movements out of the state for the Yuletide.
Arinze said: “You know many people, especially those from the South East, have gone to spend the new year with relatives in their villages.
“They started travelling from few days to Christmas.
“The park at Jibowu here was crowded with intending travellers last weekend.
“I think many roads are free now because people have moved out.”
Another resident of Lagos, Abiola Thomas, said that traffic had lightened and that many offices and schools had closed for the Christmas and new year.
Thomas said: “Pupils are on vacation and many offices had closed for the yuletide on Friday.
“We cannot have traffic if there are no people.
“I think the light traffic will endure till the new year.”
An official of the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency at Ojuelegba, who craved anonymity, attributed the situation to effective management of traffic by the agency.