Re-invoking the ‘re’ words: A series of troubling occurrences in Lagos in the past few weeks prompted this discourse. But let us warn upfront that Lagos is only used here as a metaphor for Nigeria. Secondly, we have used the word ‘re-imagine’ with caution because the other word (‘restructure’) is now jaded, if not damaged and rendered a pariah in today’s Nigeria’s political lexicology.
As most of you may know, ‘restructure’ has become a taboo word that slams the door in the faces of the citizenry and elicits a swift shutting of the mind among some of today’s leaders. Thus instead of ‘restructure’, we shall prefer in this piece, such words as re-imagine as above, re-appraise, re-engineer, revamp, re-direct, re-focus, re-think, re-boot, re-evaluate… and all the other wonderful ‘re’ words that providence has granted us to help us restore and re-awaken our minds and body when life begins to get too lethargic even for our good. We shall return to (re-visit!) this later.
Bloody test-drive: Now to the scary occurrences in our mega-city: Mid July (16th), an armed gang, some dressed in military and police uniforms stormed Iba land in the vast Alimoso Local Government Area of Lagos State at about 10 pm. They overwhelmed the community, snatched the traditional ruler, Oba Goriola Oseni, Oniba of Iba land after injuring one of his wives and killing a couple of people. They practically strolled away and escaped through the waterway in the vicinity. As at yesterday, the monarch was still being held, while a huge amount is being demanded as ransom.
Early this week, a gang of hoodlums numbering about 15 reportedly struck in the same axis of Alimoso; this time, Igando area. They also came through the waterway. During the ransacking of the settlement known as Pacific Estate, they were engaged by the police in a shoot-out, which lasted for hours until they escaped through the waterway. A couple of policemen were injured and residents fled the community in droves as they claim the attacks by armed gangs had become too incessant.
In another incident, rival hoodlums in Ijora Badia area of Lagos clashed for about three days starting from last Monday. When the dust settled, two persons were reportedly killed and scores of residents had to flee the area. It took the combined efforts of policemen and men of the Customs Service to quell the uprising.
Yet in another incident in Agege, another axis of the city, about a week ago, teenagers reportedly numbering about 100 stormed a school with machetes and various other weapons after the school’s valedictory party went awry. They attacked some officials of the private secondary school and damaged properties. It took the intervention of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) to disperse the rampaging youths.
For nearly a decade, Lagos, a fledgling mega-city, has practically been held by the scruff by emergent neighbourhood cult groups. A phenomenon that may have derived its origin in the steamy, slum jungle of Mushin-olosa has spread to adjoining communities and far beyond. Places like Fadeyi, Somolu-Bariga and Onipanu grew to be hot zones of violent cult battles.
The scourge has today spread further afield and almost pervading the entire state. Areas, such as Ikorodu, Ajah, Lagos Island, Ebute-Meta, Mile 2, Papa Ajao, etc; have witnessed incessant bloody cult rivalries, resulting in loss of lives and damage of properties.
Cultism continues to manifest in different forms and permeate various communities of the city. We have seen the ‘One Million Boys’ and the ‘Awawa Boys’, which are attempts at organised robbery gangs run riot over some areas of the city. There are other not yet notorious groups in various stages of incubation. Traversing Oshodi daily, one encounters a large army of homeless, jobless youths loitering about this major hub of the city. Not to mention the ubiquitous and unmanageable commercial bikers and street traders.
Recent brazen gang attacks through the waters around Lagos have been blamed on ‘militants’ from out of town, but one wagers that this recent manifestation is not unconnected to the oil pipe brigands who have made money from oil thefts. Having acquired more sophisticated weaponry, they have become emboldened. Several times they have gone on operation and so easily out-gunned the police and overrun any community they pick, while they return to base unscathed. And this may still be just test runs. By the time they are fully formed, they may seek bigger targets.
Grim prognosis: In sum, we wager that it is a grim prognosis ahead of us, which is why we suggest a re-imagining of the entire affairs of our nation starting from our great, exfoliating mega-city.
The new governor, it must be said, has done quite well operating on nearly two decades old template. Starting from 1999, Lagos State must be commended for having bucked the trend among states of the federation. It has been blessed with successive quality leadership, which has continued to lift it notch after notch.
But what we call for here is a radical rethink. A few days ago, the state’s executive council led by the governor rose from a retreat in Badagry with a promise of immense goodies to be showered upon the people in the just about six months’ time. Great. Indeed, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has made giant strides in just few months of his ascension and setting the Fourth Mainland Bridge in motion and rethinking Oshodi are particularly noteworthy.
What to do? Let’s go to Lake County, Michigan: some ill-informed analysts would aver that Nigeria is too big and that explains why it is not running well. But big as the US is, nearly every inch of it is governed and policed. The US like most other properly run countries is structured along federal, state and local authorities system in different names and guises.
The US for instance has 51 states and 3,144 counties. There are also county seats and villages. Almost every village has a local council that is functioning; that has a president, clerk, treasurer, attorney, sheriff, etc. Each county or village council generates its revenue, maintains security, law and order.
Pick any village randomly: Baldwin, Lake County, state of Michigan. Apart from finding all the officials, representatives and weekly meeting schedules online, you will find its population (1,208) and racial make-up; number of families residing in the village and the number of housing units and so much more.
What this suggests is a country that is in charge of every inch of its space and everyone of her citizens. To reiterate, Lagos must show the way in bringing the LGAs and LCDAs to full bloom or we face doom in the near future. No matter how energetic or perspicacious Governor Ambode might be, there is no way he could be in Alausa or Marina and be on top of happenings in Alimoso or Badagry or the waterways of Ikorodu. He must restructure (sorry, re-imagine) the governance of the state to have equally capable Lagosians driving at full throttle from every corner of the state (LGAs and LCDAs) at the same time.
Who is tending to thousands of inner street roads and drainages and primary schools; where are the councillors and ‘sheriffs’ of myriads of small communities? All these things can never be done effectively from Alausa no matter how hard a governor tries or how efficient he may be.
Let us re-imagine this structure or restructure our imagination; whichever comes easier.
Anambra’s $5m vegetable export
The news of what seems like the greatest feat of these times got one very elated until one afforded it a second thought. Wait a minute, one exclaimed as questions started streaming through the mind.
Five million dollars worth of vegetable must be a huge, massive lot. What types of vegetables? Which plantations or greenhouses yielded this quantity? When, where exactly was it planted and harvested? What about processing, packaging, warehousing quality control and shipping logistics for such highly perishable commodity? So many questions begging for answers in this beautiful story put out by Anambra State government. This story requires ample illustration to say the least. It is the same with the report about N300 million order for rice. How many rice mills are operational in the state for instance? Illustration is required to make what is a wonderful story by itself, palatable – in a manner of speaking.
