gulfer: I don't understand, what has the road got to do with the match to be played today and why close it and put people through the stress again.....
ubee: I totally understand and support the idea of ensuring that traffic flows smoothing around the stadium road and it's axis ahead of the arrival of our guest and during exit, but I'm wondering if they could not dispatch transport officials to be stationed on the roads to direct and control and enforce smooth traffic without having to divert the routes entirely.
Hmmm, this is Liberia o! That means if it was one of the football world,powers like Brazil and England they for forbid citizens entirelyfrom even driving car on those roads.
I suspect that these are the reasons:
1) The road in front of the stadium was closed when Nigeria hosted the Under 17 World Cup in 2009. All vehicles had to take the bridge, invited guests with cars had to park at the National Stadium car park and fans were given the option of coming to the stadium in BRT buses. At the time they said that the measures were put in place for security reasons (some Niger-Delta militants had threatened to attack the venues of the tournament) and to control traffic. Anyone that went anywhere near the stadium was thoroughly searched and there were long queues of people waiting to be searched. Since then the road right in front of the stadium is usually closed when there are major matches.
2) Special measures were put in place for the last game that the Super Eagles played at that stadium. The number of spectators was limited due to Covid-19 protocols. Only invited guests and a few fans that won an online lottery were allowed into the stadium. Someone that attended the match told me that there was a huge crowd outside the stadium. People that didn't have tickets and were not invited wanted to enter the stadium.
Videos later emerged showing people outside the stadium attacking the motorcade of the speaker of the House of Representatives. Some people said that it was done by people who couldn't get into the stadium, while others said that it had to do with local politics in Surulere (Surulere is the speaker's constituency).
I reckon that they want to make the area a no go area for people that do not have an invitation. They are not even selling tickets this time and there's no online lottery. (However, I believe it would have been better if this match was played on a Saturday, because this will create serious problems for people who are going home from work).
WORLD CUP QUALIFIER: LAGOS TO DIVERT TRAFFIC AT STADIUM AXIS
In preparation for the FIFA 2022 World Cup qualifying match between Nigeria and Liberia slated for Friday, 3rd of September, 2021, by 5:00 pm, the Lagos State Government will divert traffic leaving and coming into Surulere at the National Stadium.
A statement signed by the Honourable Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Frederic Oladeinde, revealed that vehicles will be barred from accessing Surulere from the axis from noon, including the service lane inbound the National Stadium from Alaka and Teslim Balogun Stadium from Ojuelegba.
He advised that motorists heading towards Costain, Lagos Island from Masha/Kilo and Surulere to use Adeniran Ogunsanya or Bode Thomas to link Iponri or Eric Moore to access their destinations or use Adelabu to connect Babs Animashaun/Eric Moore axis to link Brewery and access Costain or Eko Bridge.
"In the same vein, motorists can use the aforementioned route to access Surulere from Lagos Island. Vehicle owners heading towards Ikorodu Road from Surulere are also advised to make use of Akerele to link Ogunlana Drive inwards Itire road and connect Ojuelegba to their destination", he averred.
The Commissioner assured that the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) personnel, alongside other Security Agencies, will be on ground to ensure traffic flow is seamless, stressing that the cooperation of the community and all that ply the affected axis is vital to ease the flow of traffic during the period.
Oladeinde reiterated the commitment of the Babajide Sanwo-Olu led administration to ensure that the past glory associated with the State in the footballing world is re-enacted to make Lagos the home ground of the Super Eagles.
This was fantastic teamwork. What I've always loved about it is that Pele knew that Jairzinho would be right there. There would have been a lot of calls for fouls and even cards if this happened today.
Afghanistan: Armed Taliban fighters surround presenter during TV interview
Taliban commander Qari Samiullah called on Afghans not to flee the country during an interview with Afghanistan TV, saying the group's focus is "for the country to prosper".
A TV presenter was surrounded by Taliban fighters carrying AK-47s while he conducted an interview with one of the group's commanders.
A video shows Mirwais Haidari Haqdoost from Afghanistan TV sitting at a desk, with a row of Taliban soldiers behind him holding their guns close to their chests and pointing towards the floor.
He was interviewing one of the group's commanders, Qari Samiullah, for the channel's special programme "Pardaz" at the time.
Starting off the segment by introducing Mr Samiullah, the presenter goes on to explain that there has been "some criticism that there is a difference between the words and the actions of the Taliban".
"The people demand that the commitments and actions of the Taliban must be the same," he adds.
Mr Samiullah used the interview to urge Afghans "not to worry at all" and asked them to remain in the country.
"God willing, we will try to establish a safe atmosphere in all the provinces of Afghanistan so that the people do not worry and do not fear the Mujahideen, because they are our brothers," he said.
"Together with them, we will build the homeland."
The Taliban, who carried out public executions and banned girls and women from school or work when last in power 20 years ago, have said they will safeguard rights and not pursue vendettas.
The group has previously said the country will be at peace for the first time in more than 40 years, following the withdrawal of American troops.
The final US soldiers left Afghanistan on Tuesday after the last of its planes took off from Kabul airport.
All of its service members have now departed the country, bringing an end to a 20-year-long campaign that saw more than 2,400 Americans die as well as tens of thousands of Afghans.
Taliban fighters celebrated the last US troops leaving Afghanistan by firing guns into the air at the airport.
Travel › Re: Lagos To Divert Traffic For Today's Match Between Nigeria And Liberia by naptu2(op): 12:02pm On Sep 03, 2021
