The federal government has directed the restriction of movements around the Eagle Square, the venue of the inauguration parade, from 2 p.m. on Friday till Tuesday. The FG in a circular issued by Ngozi Onwudiwe, a permanent secretary at the Head of the Civil Service, said the Federal Secretariat Complexes Phases I, II, III, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be cordoned off by security operatives ahead of the ceremony. “As you may be aware, the Presidential Transition Council (PTC) has unveiled the activities marking the 2023 Presidential Inauguration Ceremony. The Inauguration Parade and Swearing-in of President-Elect, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which is the climax of the Programme will take place on Monday, 29th May 2023 at the Eagle Square, Central Business District, Abuja.
“In line with the security arrangements for the event, the Federal Secretariat Complexes Phases I, II, III and Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be cordoned off by security operatives from 2.00 p.m. on Friday, 26th May 2023 to Monday, 29th May, 2023.
“Accordingly, officers and intending visitors to the affected areas will not be allowed access till Tuesday, 30th May 2023, when work will resume in earnest,” the circular reads.
The Nigerian Police in the FCT also announced traffic diversions ahead of the inauguration. Josephine Adeh, the FCT police spokesperson listed out some of the diversion points.
According to the PPRO, the strategic operational deployment “is characterized by visibility policing across the territory, stop and search duty, intelligence-led raids on black spots, surveillance, vehicular/foot patrol, and diversions at strategic points namely:
1. Goodluck Jonathan Expressway by Court of Appeal
2. Deeper Life Junction,
3. Bond/Total Filling Station,
4. POWA/FCDA Junction,
5. Finance Junction by ECOWAS/Women Affairs,
6 Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
7 Eagle Square ( Phase 1 & Phase 11),
8 Kur Muhammad Way / National Mosque,
9 Abia House
10 NITEL Junction by Ademola Adetokunbo,
11 Gana Junction/Transcorp,
12 Bayelsa House by Federal High Court,
13 Aso Drive,
14 Ceddi Plaza
15 NNPC Twin Tower and
16 NNPC/NBS.
Adeh noted that the Commissioner of Police, FCT command, Haruna G. Garba equally alerted the general public of proposed fireworks scheduled to take place on the eve of the inauguration, at the City Gate and the Millennium Tower, to usher in the new administration.
Asking residents not to panic, the police boss said the fireworks is expected to be carried out by Messrs Innate Arts and Media.
