By Femi Ajayi

The main political issue today is the national convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) taking place at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos, where the Presidential candidate of the main opposition party for the 2015 elections will emerge — Muhammed Buhari, Abubakar Atiku and Sam Nda Isaiah are in the race even as an unconfirmed report claimed Rabiu Kwankwaso and Rochas Okorocha would step down.

As we all know politics is the greatest driver of insecurity in Nigeria, and today’s convention will naturally present its own security and safety challenges for the organizers, the attendees and the local populace.

I expect the organizers to have taken into serious consideration the core security and safety issues typically associated with such events, in order to provide a safe and conducive environment to the attendees and also minimize the disruption and inconvenience to ordinary citizens around the area of the convention.

L-R Founder, Leadership Group, Sam Nda-Isaiah, Governor Rochas Okorocha, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former head of state, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) displaying their Certificates of Clearance after receiving same from Chairman, Presidential Screening Committee of APC, Chief Ogbonnaya Onu at the APC National Headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday.

We understand that FRSC has deployed 100 officers to ensure effective traffic management in the city, especially in Surulere and its environs where the Teslim Balogun Stadium is located. Also, according to a statement attributed to Lagos State Commissioner of Transportation, Western Avenue and Alhaji Masha Road in Surulere would be partially closed to traffic, and pedestrian access to the convention venue will be restricted to only accredited APC members, observers and media personnel.

Vehicles heading to Lagos Island from Ikorodu Road, Yaba, Mushin, and other areas on the mainland will be diverted at Ojuelegba through Itire-Lawanson to Bode Thomas Street while those heading from the island to the mainland will be diverted at Costain to link Surulere via Eric Moore. Traffic from Surulere to Agege Motor Road, Ikorodu Road and Mushin would be diverted to Bode Thomas, Eric Moore, Akerele, and Itire-Lawanson to link Western Avenue via Ojuelegba roundabout. Also, vehicles from Surulere, Alhaji Masha and Shitta area to Lagos Island and Apapa will be diverted to Bode Thomas and Eric Moore to link Eko Bridge.

On a typical day, traffic around this area in Lagos is tight, so one can imagine what the traffic situation will look like during the period of the convention. Those that are more open to hazards and dangers are the attendees, the local community within the environs and motorists navigating through the areas.

Here are some tips that may be helpful to those attendees and the local populace:

• Be aware that commotion caused by bombings, thuggery, accident etc could result to a serious security and safety nightmare. Except it is extremely important for you to go out, you are better off to avoid the environs of the convention during this period. Remember that children and physically challenged people will present a peculiar problem in case of commotion and should be prevented from wandering aimless around the area.
• For the attendees and other accredited participants ensure you display your identification tag conspicuously, and follow the instructions of the organizers and security officials.
• If you are on special medication, remember to take it along with you. Political events of this nature may take its toll on your mental and physical health. You cannot afford to be ill and break down!
• Know the topography of the area. You cannot afford to get lost while running for cover if need be. If you are new to the place gather information as to the nearest police station, nearest hospital, how to get there, taxi park etc.
• Motorists should avoid displaying valuable items conspicuously in their vehicles and should keep the vehicles windows wound up.
• Due to the possible influx of miscreants and criminals exploiting political mood, a sharp rise in crime during the period may not be farfetched. Citizens of Lagos should exercise caution regarding late night outings. The risk of kidnappings and associated crimes may be higher at this time which is close to the end of year festivities when crime rate is usually high.
• It may do well for hospitals around the convention centre to brace up for emergencies should such situation arises.
• Fire stations and other emergency response agencies should also be at greater alert during this period.

I wish all concerned a safe and peaceful convention.

Femi Ajayi (@FAjayi10) has over 35 years of public and private sector experience in protecting assets. In addition to a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Masters in Industrial Relations, Femi has been internationally trained by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). As a leader of a team of security experts, Mr. Ajayi puts his training and years of experience to use managing a security consulting firm that has worked with the banking industry in Nigeria as well as fortune 100 and 500 companies and multinational corporations from around the world. He is the Chief Executive Officer of Risk Control Services Nigeria Ltd.

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