By Lukman Olabiyi
Lagos State has largely returned to normalcy following a four-day hunger protest that had brought business and other activities to a standstill.
Commercial activities are now fully operational across the state, and major roads, including areas with banks and businesses, are seeing a return to regular traffic.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu resumed official duties with an Executive Council Meeting at the State House.
President Bola Tinubu had urged protesters to halt demonstrations and seek dialogue in a broadcast on Sunday.
Governor Sanwo-Olu lauded the protesters for heeding the President’s appeal and ceasing their actions.
Gbenga Omotoso, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, confirmed the restoration of peace and the resumption of government operations.
“Lagos is peaceful, and that is what Lagosians want. The governor has resumed the business of the state, and government workers are back at their desks. Members of the public are returning to engage with government services,” Omotoso stated.
Omotoso also highlighted Lagos’s importance as Nigeria’s commercial hub and expressed appreciation to the protesters for their role in stabilizing the city.
“Lagosians have chosen peace and rejected chaos,” he noted.
He further reported that since the state government provided three contact numbers for dialogue, thousands of calls have been received from individuals and groups seeking to engage with the government.
While major markets and the state secretariat reflect a return to normal operations, protests persist at the Ojota protest ground.