Thousands of Catholic faithfuls in Nigeria are expected to storm the ancient city of Ibadan, as  Pope Francis I  installs  Archbishop Gabriel Abegunrin as the new metropolitan Archbishop of the Ecclesiastical Province of Ibadan, following the retirement of Archbishop Felix Alaba Job after 43 years in office. When CEOAFRICA visited the venue of the event, SS Peter and Paul Seminary, Bodija, on Thursday, it wore new look while hundreds of security personnel have been detailed to the area to ensure safety of guests. Archbishop Job, having attained the age of 75, the canonical age of retirement, had applied for retirement which the Pope approved October 29 last year.

His successor, Abegunrin, is currently the Bishop of Osogbo diocese, a position he would still hold until a new Bishop is appointed to succeed him. It was  gathered that the Nuncio, a  representative of Pope Francis, Papal Nuncio, Augustine Kasujja, arrived Nigeria from Rome yesterday for the installation which is expected to attract thousands of catholic faithful as well as government officials and dignitaries across the globe .

According to the Chairman of the installation's central planning committee, Rev. Fr. Felix Ethapemi, security had been tightened around the installation venue. He also warned that traffic gridlock may build up along the Bodija-Secretariat axis and adjoining roads. "It is very important to note that traffic situation in Bodija is very tight on working days and so the Central Planning Committee is requesting the faithful coming to this occasion to come with by public transport, or park at the designated parking lots to ease congestion at the Major Seminary"

He appealed for understanding and advised members of the public to consider taking alternative routes around Bodija instead of the UI-Secretariat road during the ceremony.