Yesterday is a closed book, today open history It was necessary to let much of the noise and hoopla of change to die down in order to find space for this small voice. Then again, it would amount to a disservice bordering on ill-will to the new regime at Alausa not to lend one’s voice. If only for the reason that one has been a long-term observer of this emerging megacity – as far back as Baba Lateef Jakande era; one would therefore be unfair not to make one’s humble input for the overall good of our city.
It must be noted that the new helmsman in Lagos, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode (AA), has started on a delightful note. He has touched down running. Quite salutary that he has set about his job rather gracefully without looking back and seeking to pick holes in his predecessor’s tenure. If only for the reason that no two circumstances are quite the same and of course, that ex-governor Raji Fashola served to the acclaim of most Lagosians. The ball is in AA’s court now and the world ahead is far larger than what has gone by. He must therefore, resist the temptation to be seen to be casting aspersion or to look back in anger.
Quick off the starting block Having said that, it is quite remarkable that he starts off with one of the most troubling issues for Lagosians today – traffic logjam. That AA elected to visit most of the traffic prone areas of the city says something about his having his finger on the pulse of the city. It suggests that he has an understanding of the challenges from the prism of the people.
To unlock a huge gridlock To illustrate, some commuters in some heavy traffic areas of the city may have suffered the pains of traffic gridlock in particular spots for upwards of 20 years. Dopemu First Bridge and Iyana Ipaja Second Bridge along the Lagos Abeokuta Expressway, which are among the spots he visited, are just two examples where Lagosians have suffered daily (morning and evening) for over two decades without anyone coming with succour or solution.
The point is that there is always a solution to any problem, much less traffic gridlock spots, but only if someone cared. All around the state – from Alimoso to Apapa, Ikeja, Third Mainland, Lekki to Ajah, hardly any area is free of daily traffic snarl that keeps commuters locked down for long spells. Apapa must be declared an emergency case immediately with joint LASG/FG task force mobilised to solve what has long been the shame of the nation at our premier sea port. There is need for a committee to rethink the entire road and transport template of the state. In the meantime, urgent palliative measures are needed in places like Iyana Ejigbo, Mushin Olosa, to mention only two. Some critical side roads need to be opened up too.
The LGAs conundrum
Talking about side roads, most of his efforts would amount to naught if his LGAs remain comatose the way they have been for a long time. The LGAs were not created just to pay salaries to a few people; they were set up for very important purposes.
They must be galvanised to work for the people in the grassroots. There is a limit to what one man can do or the places he can go to in Lagos. If the LGAs are not working, he would only be working at about 40 percent capacity no matter how hard he tried.
For instance a visit Ejigbo area of Alimoso especially now that the rains are here would be like visiting a huge pig sty; hardly any street is passable; a testimony to the total failure of governance. Just how many streets can a governor reach? He must therefore make the LGAs do their jobs and accountably too.
The scourge of ‘hood gangsOne crying matter AA must attend to with utmost urgency is the question of hoodlums and street gangs rampaging in areas of the state like Mushin, Fadeyi, Somolu-Bariga, Ajah etc. this situation has indeed gone out of hand already. Gruesome killings and wanton destruction of property of residents have gone on for too long. AA must reaffirm the authority and presence of government in the state, pronto.
Age of creative economy The last point the new helmsman must note is the need to restructure the economy of the state. No matter how we look at it, the state is highly leveraged. The economy has merely been hinged on high taxes and federal allocation. It is still a rent-taking economy buoyed by huge debt. This is less than half its potential. There is need for a new template of more robust and creative economy especially in this season of depression.
For instance what are the strategic assets of the state? How developed are these? Apart from just taking taxes what direct investments is the state doing for bigger economic cakes. Yes there is the new city, the free zone, refineries and airport all in the making but there is room for much more.
Another instance: Lagos is almost like a tourist desert. Not even residents have public places for family relaxation or sight-seeing how much more visitors and foreigners. The Bar Beach, commonplace as it was, used to be a popular public convergence for fun-seekers in Lagos. It is no more and millions of Lagosians are stranded. A moderately made-up and well-secured public beach would be a huge earner. The huge tourism potential of Badagry is untapped. That town ought to be a global hub for historical and cultural tourism. The slavery sites in Ghana and Senegal are not any more significant than the Badagry slave port, they are only better developed and better projected.
We are talking about Lagos carefully developing and making capital of her waterways and aqua-culture economy, expansive beach economy, slave trade economy, ICT economy, entertainment and culture economy and sports economy. Lagos can drive and sustain a viable football league, basketball league, and catalyze swimming and athletics clubs.
Even in the traditional businesses, a million or two more people more will pay taxes with a slight review and a better approach. Engaging big businesses better and a friendlier industrialization policy could see the state’s economy grow to twice its current size without being overly indebted.
Lastly, Lagos must set up a carefully manned federal government intervention panel to fashion out ways and manner of engagement. And multilateral agencies should find a haven in Lagos for spending development dollars. But the conditions must be conducive. Lagos, a fledgling mega city needs all the funding it can get.