Past administrations in Lagos State have had different environmental beautifications as part of their efforts to make Nigeria’s commercial capital environmental friendly. But Governor AkinwunmiAmbode’s administration has gone a step further, transforming most of the the state’s under flyovers such as Obalende, Ojuelegba, Maryland, National Stadium and Ikeja, hitherto in deteriorating state, reports Chinyere Elizabeth Okoroafor.
Until now most under flyovers in Lagos were dreaded spots. They were not only home to hoodlums and street urchins, who have not only made them their operational base but harbour for squatters and street traders. Some serve as taxi parks, mosques, NURTW offices, bukateria for motorists, mechanical workshops, refuse dumps, as well as places to urinate and defecate at will.
Similarly, robbery attacks were linked to such hotspots and only those, who have been victims can tell a better story of how they were robbed of their valuable items. Today, all that has changed. These under flyovers are now undergoing transformation by Ambode’s administration in an effective utilisation of public spaces under flyovers.
Obalende’s beautification project began this year with Proximity Technologies Ltd as the contractor under the supervision of the state Ministry of Housing. The 12-week project will ultimately create many paintings and sculptures in most of the stipulated under flyovers, enlisting crews of students and studio practicing artists to create reality or abstract paintings to fit the allotted spaces.
The goal is to beautify under flyovers with paintings that have meaning, while at the same time employing and engaging student artists and giving them a constructive environment to express themselves
Descending Obalende Bus Stop from Mainland Bridge, several imposing images stare at you from the pillars holding the bridge. As you get closer you are compelled to look at these brilliant images of three past head of states that stood on the first three rolls of the pillars. They are images of General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd), President Muhammadu Buhari and General Olusegun Obasanjo (rtd) painted in Army uniform. Opposite them is that of the late Head of State General Murtala Mohammed on the same line of pillars that have the late Chief Bola Ige and the former Governor of Lagos Ahmed Tinubu painted in different colours. Behind these first rolls of pillars are images of iconic personalities painted in enchanting bright colours you would definitely love to take a selfie behind them. Such images are the late Herbert Macaulay, the late musician Fatai Rolling Dollars, the late Chief Abibatu Mogaji and some women wearing multi colourful carnival outfit, as well as other abstract and realism images. Also, the landscape has walkways that will later be adorned with sculptures at strategic positions. There are also portions where green carpet grasses are being planted to promote greenery. In all, the Obalende under flyover has about 15 murals by some artists such as Promise Peter Udoakang, Chukwuma Sylvester Onwudiwe and Prince Adelakun.
For the past few months, Udoakang, a self-taught 21-year-old artist, whose focus is primarily hyper-realism and impressionism, has been part of the painting of the Obalende project. He said he has worked on over 10 pillars, using oil and acrylic as the medium on the walls. He disclosed that to ensure quality, the Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture Mr Steve Ayorinde has visited the site to check on the project. ‘” The contractors supervise the projects and at one time Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture came to check what we were doing,” he said.
Chukwuma Sylvester Onwudiwe, who believed that art makes him feel like a mini-god in creating from nothing, is a sculptor. He has done 10 works of animals and stylised plant sculptures so far, using cement. These sculptures will later be painted and positioned at strategic places under the Obalende flyover. He described the under flyover project as a good idea, noting that ‘it used to be a dead zone for hoodlums at night. But, at the end of the project, it will restore sanity and peace to users. It will also serve as a recreation center for the public.
Another artist selected as part of the project is Prince Adelakun, a sculptor and painter. He produced 10 sculptures that are positioned at different spots at the Obalende under the flyover. On his involvement with the project, Adelakun said the appreciation of art can sometimes be elitist, but that the recent city reconstructions such as this project can reshape that.
“Some artists focus on studio works for galleries, which cost hundred of thousands of naira and only appreciated within a gallery. For me, I understand the environment I am in. These people by the roadside, even though they cannot buy my art, they appreciate what I’m doing and can commission me to paint their husbands or wives,” he said.
Also, a walk-through Ojuelegba under flyover will leave one in awe of its new look. For someone, who has been away from Lagos for a long time now, it will surely be an amazing sight to behold as colourful paintings of abstract to reality and images of iconic personalities such the late Afro Beat icon Fela Anikunlapo Kuti and Wizkid adorn each of the pillars that hold the bridge. The floor is neatly laid with interlocking bricks.
Honouring heroes, using murals is one sure way to inspire people in the society, which bolsters civic pride, tourism and economic development. It is not out of place for the portraits of Wizkid, who in his hit song Ojuelegbasings about growing up there, and neither it is for Fela, who in the 70s lived in that axis as well as sang Ojuelegba in one of his songs. He used Ojuelegba, which is notorious for traffic jams as a metaphor for Nigeria’s confusion.
Under the flyovers at National Stadium and Falomo, Ikoyi are also decorated with abstract paintings that give it an alluring look and a nice place to sit out. Also, at Ikeja under flyover close to Lagos State Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) is the image of the heroine late Dr. Stella Adadevoh, who died of Ebola disease while trying to save the life of a Liberian Mr. Charles Sawyer, who was infected with the dreaded disease before entering Nigeria.
