Tinubu's Arrival in Lagos Causes Major Traffic Jam

President Bola Tinubu returned to Lagos on Tuesday evening, causing heavy traffic around Murtala Muhammed International Airport and nearby areas. Security agents restricted movement on roads he used, leading to long delays for motorists and commuters.

The restrictions started before 5 p.m. Motorists and commuters were stuck for hours. Traffic piled up near the airport and on roads connecting the airport to Lagos Island, Ikoyi, and the Third Mainland Bridge.

Mr Tinubu came back to Lagos from Paris, France. He had spent about four weeks in Europe, which the presidency called a working vacation.

His Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, shared the news of his return earlier on Tuesday. Mr Onanuga explained that the president chose to return through Lagos to honor the late Chief MKO Abiola. Abiola is recognized by the government as the winner of the annulled 12 June 1993 presidential election.

“On Independence Day, the President will attend the premiere of a movie honoring Abiola, the winner of the June 1993 election, at the Wole Soyinka National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos.

“While in Lagos, President Tinubu will also hold strategic meetings with political leaders and associates over several days in preparation for the 2027 elections,” he said.

Many motorists and residents complained about the traffic restrictions. A lawyer from Lagos, Inibehe Effiong, who arrived in Lagos on Tuesday, criticized the situation in posts on his X handle.

“I just arrived in Lagos and this is the kind of madness that is going on at the Lagos airport,” he said. “How can the busiest airport in the commercial capital of a country be put on lockdown for hours because an absentee President is on his way back to the country?”

Mr Effiong questioned if the president's security could be managed without causing long delays for other travelers. “Why subject citizens and foreigners to this long horrendous treatment when Tinubu’s plane is not even on the ground yet?” he asked.

“Is this the best way to protect him? Is there no better way to manage the presidential movement in this country?” Other motorists also took to social media to alert others traveling toward the airport.

“Just passed the airport now and apparently Tinubu is coming back and everywhere is blocked. Avoid airport road,” @ama_rachi posted on X. Another user, @Ghost4570Ghost, criticized the level of disruption, saying, “I don’t understand how a whole state movement would be shut down because of the president’s arrival.”

Moses Nwankechukwu remembered a previous traffic incident at Abuja airport. He had to help a pregnant woman who got ill after being stuck in traffic on the Lugbe airport road.

“Last year in November, that’s how a friend’s wife who was pregnant got sick around 6 p.m. I was called to help because his car was at the mechanic. Na so I carry a pregnant sick woman to stand there till 9 p.m.,” he wrote.

Some people said traffic restrictions during presidential movements are common. “Experience Lagos traffic. It’s our lifestyle,” Damola Oladipo wrote. King Ekem on Facebook also said that security for government heads could involve temporary road closures and traffic restrictions. Similar measures happen in other countries when their leaders move around.

The disruption reminded many of former President Goodluck Jonathan's comments on how he managed movement in Lagos while in office. He spoke on 14 September while chairing the 13th Anniversary Olusegun Agagu Memorial Lecture at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos. The event honored the memory of former Ondo State Governor Agagu, who died on 13 September 2013, at age 65.

In a video shared by Splash FM 105.5, Mr Jonathan talked about his love and dislike for visiting Lagos. He said managing traffic for a presidential convoy could disrupt other road users, which is why he often used a helicopter after landing at Lagos airport.

“Even when I was in office I loved coming to Lagos but I also disliked coming to Lagos. Because if you as a sitting president, come into Lagos and you attempt to control traffic for VIP movement, the kind of chaos you would set up in the city would be so much,” he said.

“So when I land at the airport, I would use a helicopter to fly to the President’s Residence. And if I have a program anywhere in Lagos, I would use a helicopter to land close to that place; I don’t drive.” Mr Jonathan’s story shows the traffic issues that presidential movements can cause in Lagos. Road restrictions affecting a presidential convoy can impact many other road users.