AS the 62nd annual convention of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, enters its fifth day today, with millions expected to converge at the Redemption Camp for the Holy Ghost service, the leadership of the church has advised motorists to be patient and obedient to the traffic managers on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
More worshippers are expected at the camp today for the traditional Holy Ghost Service and increase the traffic on the very busy road. Hard as the church had tried to ensure smooth flow of traffic during its events, with hundreds of policemen, road marshals as well as volunteers from the church, to manage traffic, it hardly ever reduces the pain of road users, with hundreds of thousands of worshippers from different parts of the world always present at such events.
Reducing pain of motorists
The church had made deliberate efforts to reduce the pain of motorists within and around the camp with the provision of more parking lots and the construction of alternative routes between the camp and other neighbouring towns to reduce pressure on the Lagos-Ibadan road.
Head of the church’s security department, Pastor Okey Mofunaya, however, assured our reporters, yesterday, that adequate measures have, this time, been put in place to make sure there is free flow of traffic on the expressway and within the camp, saying that with the help of the Holy Spirit, there will be not unpleasant situation.
According to him, the church had been collaborating with the contractor handling the expansion work on the road, stressing that other security measures put in place cannot be a subject for public consumption.
He, however, cautioned motorists on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway to cooperate with operatives of the Nigeria Police Force, Federal Road Safety Corps, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the church’s volunteer force known as Team Nehemiah who are being deployed to control traffic on the road.
A source close to the church, also told us that the church had steadily increased the number of security personnel on the road who are always overwhelmed by activities of commercial drivers who were always seeking quick ways of making brisk business, adding that this year’s convention will be different.
Worshippers had started trooping into the camp from Monday for the 62nd convention of the church, and by yesterday, facilities in the camp including the world’s largest auditorium, said to accommodate more than a million worshippers at a time, had been overstretched with hundreds of people queuing for hours to have an opportunity to take a shower in the morning.
The convention is expected to end on Sunday with the ordination of pastors and a farewell service, but traffic is always heaviest on Friday night and Saturday morning.
Travellers with businesses at the Redemption Camp, especially those travelling to the South South and South Eastern parts of the country are, therefore, advised to take alternative routes, such as Ikorodu and proceed to Sagamu, while those going to the South West may go through Abeokuta and come out at the Sagamu interception.
Source: Vanguard
