Traffic came to a halt at the Berger area of Lagos on Saturday morning as security personnel blocked access routes into the state ahead of the 2025 local government elections.
As early as 7:32 a.m., large numbers of commuters were seen stranded, and several vehicles were forced to turn back due to the heavy presence of law enforcement agencies at one of the state’s busiest entry points.
A joint operation involving police officers, Federal Road Safety Corps officials, and military personnel was observed enforcing the restriction of movement directive. Their presence created gridlock in the area, with many passengers choosing to disembark and continue their journey on foot.
Some Lagos residents expressed confusion and frustration, saying they were unaware that movement would be restricted due to the election.
One traveler, who said he had just arrived from Port Harcourt, was visibly surprised after being stopped by police officers at the checkpoint. “We didn’t know there was an election today. We just arrived in Lagos and we’re heading to Ikeja,” he said.
Despite his explanation, he was not allowed to proceed beyond the barricade.
The Lagos State Police Command had earlier declared a statewide movement restriction from 6:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. to ensure the smooth conduct of the local government elections. The exercise is taking place across the 20 Local Government Areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas of the state, where voters are expected to elect new council officials.
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