As Lagosians prepare for the Eid el-Kabir celebrations, the Office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Central Business Districts, has assured shoppers, visitors and commuters doing business on the Lagos Island Central Business District of their safety during and after the Sallah festival.

Its Director, Administration and Human Resources, Babatunde Onafowokan gave the assurance while monitoring the security and traffic situation within the business district, stressing that the Central Business Districts Management Office had put in place major steps to ensure a safe and secure business environment in the Lagos Island CBD during the celebrations.

Onafowokan, who noted that during festive periods, Lagos Island usually witnesses a high influx of people, said the Office has harmonised environmental, traffic and safety enforcement activities with sister agencies to prevent gridlock, guarantee security and remove all impediments that could constitute a danger to Lagosians.

He said, “All enforcement officers are now on regular patrol along the CBD axis and have been mandated to improve on their performance in a way that traders, shoppers and other stakeholders will appreciate and feel safe to transact their businesses”.

The Director promised residents of a reduced crime season within the Lagos Island Business District, saying extreme measures are in place to curtail violence and other activities that may constitute a breach of security.

Such measures, according to him, will include useful public enlightenment, regular patrol, surveillance, community relations and intelligence report to crime-fighters.

He said as part of efforts to drastically reduce the traffic snarl usually experienced on the Apongbon – Marina Axis, meetings have been held with various transport union members, market leaders and security operatives on proper use of the designated Ajeigboro Bus Park, assuring that all relevant agencies will be on ground to ensure that vehicles are not allowed to pick and drop passengers indiscriminately.

“There is going to be the presence of all stakeholders in those areas and I want to say that no obstruction will be permitted on the axis; no commercial vehicle is allowed to stop along the axis and any broken down vehicle within the route will be removed within reasonable time in order not to obstruct free flow of traffic”, the Director stated.

While wishing Lagosians a happy celebration, he advised shoppers, motorists and traders to obey all relevant environmental and traffic rules by not parking their vehicles in unauthorised areas while shopping.

He further advised shoppers not to patronise illegal bus stops but make use of only authorised car parks and garages to board vehicles to their various destinations.