Federal mess in Lagos (Part 1)

Potholes, potholes everywhere you go!

LIVING in Lagos can be as stressful as living in a war zone; the weather is constantly humid, traffic is hellish, living conditions are horrid, roads are terribly bad and the government appears to be ‘indifferent’. In the last few weeks, the combined problem of traffic logjam and insecurity across the state have made many Lagosians wondered aloud what is going wrong with their beloved Centre of Excellence.

A latest survey conducted by leading research institute, NOIPolls, revealed that severe traffic gridlock and heightened crime rate have now become the major sources of concern to the residents of Nigeria’s commercial capital, since Governor Akinwunmi Ambode assumed office in May 2015.

Ile-Epo Market, Oke-Odo area of Abule-Egba. PHOTO: SUNDAY AKINLOLU

Predictably, the latter (heightened crime rate) exists because of the precarious situation of the former (severe traffic gridlock), which regrettably have been blamed on the lukewarm attitude to work by the state’s traffic regulatory personnel and hideous potholes littering many of the major artery roads in the state.

Lagos has elevated the definition of potholes. They are no longer small openings carved out on its roads by rainfall and lack of drainages but are alternatively death traps, that an unsuspecting motorist can pay dearly for.

These potholes, mostly on federal roads, have widened into craters and usually cause unnecessary traffic gridlocks. In some cases, car owners have to visit mechanics after a trip or two on these roads. More so, it has become an eyesore to Nigeria, the nation’s former political capital.

Lagos is encircled by dreadful roads on all fronts. Lagos-Ibadan Expressway is perennially a motorist’s nightmare; Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway is caving in under pressure and influx of citizens to the fringes of Lagos; Lagos-Badagry Expressway is taking forever to remodel and expand; too much has been written and said about the deplorable but busy Apapa-Oshodi Expressway; and the situation remains the same with Ikorodu-Sagamu Expressway.

At a time, former governor and now member of President Buhari’s cabinet as a minister, Babatunde Fashola, had relentlessy told the world how the Federal Government has over the years neglected Lagos and why a special status needed to be granted.

It is no longer fruitless to play politics with Lagos. Concrete action must now be taken to arrest the rot, which is threatening the economy of Nigeria’s biggest cashcow after oil. If taken as a country on its own, Lagos would be among the largest economies in Africa. According to a recent Economist report, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Lagos exceeds that of Kenya, East Africa’s beefiest economy.

All these have made life miserable for Lagosians. There is an increase in the number of vehicles on the roads. As a result of the traffic, many have missed business engagements, while those gainfully engaged have lost productive man-hours to the traffic.

The worries do not end there, as every person behind the wheels are weary of daredevil robbers clutching dangerous weapons in the bid to disposes motorists of money, phones and valuables. And these men of the underworld have found a new hobby in plying their trade during traffic. They are so brazen they don’t need the cover of darkness anymore.

All these are enough to stress out even the calmest soul, and sometimes most people who are stressed out don’t even know it until it’s too late.

Little wonder then Lagos was listed as one of the least livable cities in the world alongside Pakistan, Harare in Zimbabwe and Dhaka in Bangladesh by a study conducted by The Economist Intelligence Unit’s Global Liveability Ranking, which rated 140 cities in the areas of stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education and infrastructure.

Inspite of this, it is an irony of sorts that the city of Lagos still attracts visitors in their hundreds daily.

Federal Ministry of Works keeps mum
WHEN The Guardian contacted a deputy Director, in the Federal Ministry of Works, Mr. Godwin Eke, for comment on the bad state of the road, he directed the reporter to contact the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Works in Abuja, on the ground that he is not allowed to speak to the press.

When reminded that he has been talking to the Press in the past on the parking of trucks and petrol tankers constituted nuisance on the highway, Eke, who is in charge of Section I of the Federal Highway said it was in the past and not now.

Minister-designate and former governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola, had last year, said a good number of federal roads in the state were in a state of disrepair, pointing out that the situation would have been worse if his administration had not intervened on some of them, adding that he spent over N50 bilion of tax-payers money to fix federal roads without getting any refund, despite acknowledgement by the Federal Government.

“We intervened in federal roads because they would disrupt economic activities if we leave them in a state of disrepair. One can imagine the economic impact of watching Apapa-Oshodi Expressway to be completely unmotorable. We can’t just watch these roads to rot away because we feel the pains.”

Lagosians speak
Gridlock, an act of indiscipline
I think the traffic situation in Lagos is simply caused by act of indiscipline. Most of us need moral re-orientation on how to use the road, respect for other road users and with love. You might say bad road is another cause of traffic gridlock on Lagos roads. I quite agree on that but even while driving around these roads with an act of civility and respect for the other, the effect can be minimized.
Kunle Ogunleye, Banker

We need an improved public transport system
THE Lagos traffic is as a result of the terrible state of roads and the very large volume of vehicles on the roads. We will continue to witness gridlocks unless government discourages the use of private vehicles and further improve on public transportation. The introduction of restrictions of vehicles plying notorious gridlock hotspots can also help.
Adeyinka Agoro, Lecturer

Lagos wahala is tiring
LAGOS wahala can be very tiring and annoying. Going and returning from work is something else now because of the traffic situation; you spend close to two hours in a place you can easily get to in less than 45minutes. No money, hunger everywhere. My sister, e tire me o!
Habib, Vulcanizer

The stress diminishes productivity
THE traffic situation in Lagos is pitiable. You go to work through the stress of traffic in the morning and return through the same tiring process. This wears one out and diminishes productivity for employees in the long run.
Akpos Otubuere, Media Practitioner