Thursday, January 29, 2009

Life returns to Lagos

CALL it Isale Eko! Name it Eko! Still, it is Lagos Island! The premier Central Business District (CBD) Nigeria ever knew. It is the home of the legendary Balogun Market and the Lagos monarch. It hosted the colonial and post- independence administrations. In fact, Nigeria's financial nerves grew from here with over six million people moving in for business daily.

In the '60s and early '70s, the environment was a beauty to behold and more like a tourist attraction with organized formal and informal markets. It hosted the headquarters of most corporate organisations in the country.

But all of a sudden, the beauty of the area was overtaken by societal nuisance that turned the city of Lagos to a jungle.

Traffic was no longer moving, commercial activities took over the roads, hoodlums, armed robbery and other criminal activities overwhelmed orderliness and decency as governance and security flew from Lagos Island.

Corporate organisations took their flight one after the other while commercial bus operators converted available spaces to parks.

Carter Bridge, which serves as major link between the Mainland and Island, was turned to market with the collaboration of hoodlums and council officials.

But today, it is a different story. The state government, as part of its determination to rid the metropolis of all traffic and commercial hindrances, recently extended its arms of sanity to Lagos Island.

Last Thursday, when an octogenarian, Pa Simeon Olatubosun visited his old-time friend who resides on the Island, he was surprised at what he saw.

For the past 20 years, he had identified the area with a high rate of crime, frustrating traffic jam caused by commercial drivers and the menace of hoodlums, popularly known as area boys.

He was amazed with the level of sanity and orderliness he saw on Carter Bridge, which used to be a haven for hoodlums, traders and commercial drivers.

On both sides of the bridge, pedestrians walked through the walkways and there was no commercial activity on the bridge.

He was also surprised that the long queue of commercial buses and the officials of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) as well as touts were no longer visible on the bridge.

He did not see any trader or hawker on the bridge. Traffic was free, streets were neatly swept while commercial buses formed a single lane on queue.

The old man was further baffled when he peeped out of his car and was able to catch a glimpse of the Eyo Cenotaph and Clock Tower at Idumagbo, including activities going on at Idumota, right from the bridge.

"This is wonderful. Lagos Island has really changed from what it used to be in the past," he said.

Another Lagosian, Mr. Dare Ogudeko, a businessman who had made it a matter of policy to forfeit anything that would take him to Lagos Island due to the traffic nuisance and activities of hoodlums, could not contain his emotion after witnessing the level of sanity on the Island.

He told The Guardian, "Lagos Island was an abode for criminals and centre of lawlessness. With what the state government achieved in Oshodi,I deliberately drove to Lagos Island to see things after a long visit to the area.

"As a matter of fact, I lost hope of sanity returning to Lagos Island. Carter Bridge was turned to market and motor park while hoodlums and NURTW officials took charge. Heavy commercial activities went on in the middle of the road at Idumota, Bamgbose, Balogun, John Street, Nnamdi Azikwe streets among others. Motorists no longer had passage.

"The worst was the spate of organised crime and armed robbery that frequently occurred. All the walkways were converted to shops while street fights and parties further compounded the problems in the area. It got to such an extent that most corporate bodies relocated from Lagos Island.

"Monuments of significant importance were turned to criminals' abode. All hope of sanity was lost.

The few corporate organizations that stayed behind also collaborated with the informal sector to debase the area.

For instance, some of them deliberately placed their generating sets on walkways, extending their activities to the road while using part of the road as car parks.

But today, the story is different. It is possible to drive through Iddo to Carter Bridge, ascend Idumota Bridge, then proceed to Nnamdi Azikwe Street, which links Broad Street with Victoria Island without any obstruction."

Another Lagosian, Ifeanyi Ode, also noticed that the usual long traffic jam at Idumagbo Roundabout was no longer there. He also observed that the Clock Tower Monument built over 74 years ago and the Eyo Quadrangle are now renovated and manned by the CBD security agents.

Similarly, Adeniji Adele Foreshore, one of the main entrances to the CBD, that was previously occupied by shanties up to the monarch's palace, has also been cleared.

A resident, Fatai Oladele, told The Guardian that Adeniji Adele Foreshore used to be one of the most dangerous parts of Lagos Island.

The Special Adviser to Governor on CBD, Mr. Oyinlomo Danmole told The Guardian that government could not afford to allow traders and hoodlums to rubbish over N22 billion it spent on upgrading the CBD to what it is at present.

According to him, "The office has taken decisive steps to ensure that the nation's foremost business enclave inched towards becoming an acceptable international shoppers' and investors' delight. We have gone beyond improving on the precarious traffic and sanitation situation as it was in the past years, to serving as government's eye in protecting lives and property within the area".

He noted the drastic traffic reduction in petty traders along the roads and organized crime such as pickpockets, bag snatching, extortion of shoppers, and traders, bank robbery and frequent street fights among youths in the area.

Most of the ring leaders are positively engaged by CBD or routed by security forces while illegal structures and shanties used as hideout for planning and executions of crime were demolished"

He added that several streets, which Lagosians hardly knew were in existence, due to commercial activities, are now opened up for motorists. They include: Ereko; Idumagbo; John Street; Alakoro Ebute Ero ; Ejalonibu, from Obun Eko to Dosunmu by Clock Tower and from Adeniji Adele Foreshore to Ejalonibu.

"The usual traffic logjam under Apongbon Bridge has reduced. Traffic flow on Inner and Outer Marina has been enhanced with constant patrol by the CBD patrol riders and traffic officers who are stationed at major interjections, especially on Inner Marina".

However, an Estate Planner, Musthapa Abiodun, commended the state for freeing the CBD area but lamented that government still has a lot of work to do.

He also chided some corporate organizations for parking their vehicles indiscriminately along the roads.

A commercial bus driver Martins Oforie, who plies Mushin to Idumota, also commended the recent development on Lagos Island.

The Commandant General of CBD, Mr. Raimi Asunramu said the level of compliance by the informal sector was commendable.

He, however, noted that the officials of the formal sectors should endeavor to abide by the rules and regulations guiding the CBD area.

"Meanwhile not less than 16 offenders have been arrested and arraigned for environmental default ranging from street trading, indiscriminate disposal of refuse among others.

The Managing Director, Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Mr. Ola Oresanya also added that the agency had made special arrangement for effective evacuation of refuse within the CBD arena to ensure it is clean all the time.

According to him, "LAWMA has provided over 30 static compactors for all markets within the CBD".