The state government has also barred all commercial buses, taxis and motorcycles from entering Lagos Island on the day of the festival.
Speaking at a press conference in Lagos, on Thursday, Governor Babatunde Fashola said the measure was aimed at bringing the status of the festival to that of an international event, adding that both local and international tourists expected at the event were assured of adequate safety of their lives.
The Governor said, “Security will be heightened around Tafawa Balewa Square, venue of the event as from today (Friday) and Saturday. Members of the Eyo masquerade, who do not comply with the rules and regulations of the festival will be the guests of the Commissioner of Police.”
He, however, warned observers and tourists to obey strictly the rules and regulations of the festival such as refraining from smoking cigarettes and pipes near the masquerades; taking photographs of masquerades; wearing caps near the masquerades, among others.
Fashola said the festival had been carefully planned to be different from the others as the TBS would be transformed to a big picnic arena.
He also said the state environmental sanitation for the month of April, which comes up on Saturday, had been cancelled.
Specifically, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Mr. Kayode Opeifa, said about 310 Bus Rapid Transit and LAGBUS buses had been provided to convey tourists and observers from 52 different locations in the metropolis.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State command, Mr. Marvel Akpoyibo, has approved the deployment of about 1,060 policemen for the festival.
The men are expected to ensure the safety of lives and property in and around the venue of the festival.
One of our correspondents learnt that the decision of the command to beef up security during the festival was based on its suspicion that some hooligans might want to capitalise on the huge crowd expected at the venue to cause crisis.
Source:
http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art200904244403495
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