Expectations from Macron’s visit to the New Afrika Shrine – Neighborhood residents
French President Emmanuel Macron went directly to the Shrine from Abuja, where he met with President Muhammadu Buhari on the second day of his visit to West Africa. He had visited Mauritania on Monday.
The New Afrika Shrine located at Ikeja Lagos was rebuilt after the original shrine by the musical maverick, Fela was burnt down in 1977.
“I’m very happy to be here with you tonight,” said Macron, addressing the cheering and whistling crowd in English.
According to residents of Agidingbi, Ikeja where the shrine is located, it was also a thing of joy for them.
Macron said he was happy to return to Nigeria, where he had done an internship at the French embassy in 2002 and had visited the Shrine.
When Newsroom correspondent visited the New Afrika Shrine Tuesday morning, we gathered that security operatives had been at the place as early as 7 am, awaiting Macron’s arrival.
Our correspondent also spoke with people at the scene on their expectations from the French President’s visit.
Security:
One Amusa Abiodun, a banker, said “the presence of security will call government attention to the area. People are beginning to be security conscious ahead of 2019 elections.”
Road maintenance:
There had been reports that the state government, in anticipation of Macron’s visit, made sure to rehabilitate the road leading to the New Afrika Shrine.
One Gabriel Idowu said: “Since yesterday road maintenance has been going on around the neighbourhood.
“It is an opportunity for government to pay more attention to the area if more world class people are to visit the area in the nearest future.”
Crime:
According to a resident who pleaded anonymity, he said: “I hope it is not an opportunity for people to steal in the area, sometimes when big events like this take place there are usually cases of rape, robbery in the area.”
Value of heritage:
Another resident noted that Macros’s visit to the New Afrika Shrine indicated that he knows the value of heritage, and urged the state government to keep boosting the image of the country through its tourism ideologies.
Visit to other parts of Lagos:
One resident who simply identified himself as Kelechi said he hopes MAcron “would visit Mushin, Ojuelegba, Agege, so that Lagos roads can be fixed.
