Connect with us

society

Rains Expose Lagos’ Crumbling Roads, Bridges as Sanwo Olu’s Covid Focus Neglects Infrastructure

Published

on

SANWO-OLU CONGRATULATES LAGOS HOS, MURI-OKUNOLA AT 50

It is no longer news that Nigeria is still trying to grapple with the effects of COVID 19 which hit the world early on in January and took a hefty toll sometime in February.
A good number of countries like Germany, New Zealand, South Africa have put plans in motion to overcome recession with stimulus packages ranging from Germany’s 160 billion euros to South Africa’s R500 billion and have also accelerated spending’s on infrastructure and the economy as a whole.

Nigeria on its part seems to be focused more on fighting COVID 19 while Infrastructure and Security have been relegated to the background by almost all state governments leaving the economy in dire straits.
Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital for example has recorded impressive results in the fight against COVID-19.
Its Governor Babajide Sanwo Olu of Lagos has however persistently ignored calls to fix dilapidated roads which have now become death traps as the rains fall in full force or likewise check the growing spate of insecurity across the state.

The port city of Apapa continues to experience crushing gridlock with billions of revenue lost monthly by importers and exporters using the port facilities at Apapa and Tin Can ports.
In the case of the roads which are fast becoming death traps to Lagosians with gullies and craters littered around Lagos, former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, stated in the past that the state recorded a whooping loss of N250 billion to traffic annually.
This is besides the pains businesses and families who often spend four or more hours for a 30 minutes’ journey are exposed to daily due to the excruciating traffic jam.

Despite this revelation by the former governor, he did little or nothing to salvage the challenge.
A resident of Lagos, Segun Akanbi, lamented, “the current Governor came in with a lot of promise, performed fairly but has now diverted focus to the fight against COVID 19 to the detriment of other aspects especially roads.”
There is almost no area in the state that is spared of bad roads, but the worst-hit places are: Mile 2, Abule Ado, Alakija, Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway up to Ikeja Along, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Oworosoki- Oshodi Expressway, Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, Ikorodu Road, Lagos-Badagry Expressway, Funsho-Wiliams Avenue, by Costain area, which has been closed to traffic for construction work on the Costain bridge.
Others are: Kirikiri Road, Apapa, which has worsened traffic gridlock caused by truck operators who have taken over the road leaving little or no space for other road users. Satellite Town Road, Oriade LCDA, Otto-Wharf Bandary Road, Ajegunle, In Ajeromi- Ifekodun LGA. Chivita-Canoe Road, Oshodi-Isolo LGA, Isheri-Osun, LCDA, Ishawo, Road, Idimu Pipeline, Ikorodu, among others.

These days, it is a dreadful experience for commuters and motorists to navigate through Lagos-Badagry Expressway. Plying the international road has been hectic due to several failed portions on both sides of the highway, worsened by persistent rainfall which has forced motorists to spend valuable hours maneuvering the road.
In the case of the Ports, stakeholders and residents also continue to appeal to both state and the Federal Govt that a lasting solution be found to solve the gridlock and the infrastructure decay on the Apapa port and Tin Can Island access road to no avail.
President, Muhammadu’s Buhari, gave an ultimatum that made no impact as it is still business as usual with a lot of loss to Nigeria, stakeholders and residents.

Even the visit of Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo brought no respite.
A recent study indicates that at least three of every ten years spent in Lagos is lost to traffic. It means Lagosians spend an average of seven hours 20 minutes in traffic every day.

An economic analyst, Kolapo Oluwo averred that the long hours spent daily in traffic with its attendant economic as well as health, emotional and relational costs is colossal.
“For a potential megacity and the economic hub of the country it shows the incapacity and lack of visionary leadership, despite media campaigns and allusions to the contrary.”

He noted that: “Lagos is the commercial, economic, as well as financial capital of Nigeria accounting for over 50 percent of the industrial and commercial establishments, as well as 70 percent of manufacturing activities. In addition, it has the most active stock exchange in West Africa; its four ports collectively handle about 75 and 90 percent of the country’s imports and non-oil exports by weight respectively. Even more, its international airport handles about 80 percent of airborne exports and imports and 80 percent of passenger movements in and out of the country.”
Oluwo Further said, “the state’s population has continued to grow rapidly – put at between six to eight percent per annum – and is a dragnet for school leavers and other economic migrants from other parts of the country. It is projected that the population of the city will grow to 36 million by 2050.”

A public Analyst, Emeka Ohanyere buttressed this saying despite its huge population and importance, road is the city’s most common and available means of transport. Rail and water transportation are meanwhile relatively under-developed in Lagos.

“Years of military rule, underinvestment and poor maintenance of existing transport infrastructure has seen Lagos lag behind other major global cities in the utilisation of efficient public transportation system such as urban rail system and modern high capacity buses.”
As at 2006, it was estimated that the city’s transport infrastructure and services were at levels that supported a population of six million.

In 2006, the government developed a transport master plan to integrate road, water, rail, and cable-car transport to provide one of the most efficient systems of transportation in a megacity.
Shortly after, in 2008, the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) was launched as a stop-gap measure while seven train lines were planned to link all parts of the states and even Ogun state with light rail.

However, due to paucity of funds, only the contract for the blue line (the 27-kilometre Badagry line running from Okokomaiko to Marina via Iddo) was awarded at the colossal cost of $1.2 billion (compared to similar projects in other parts of Africa awarded for just a fraction of that amount) to be completed in 2011.
It was projected others will be awarded subsequently and the entire master plan will be completed in 2020.

Analysts have however argued that as governments grapple with the health care challenges associated with the Covid-19 pandemic, the economic toll must also be considered.

Economist, Muyiwa Akintemi says this is a central question that should preoccupy the government as rescue packages amounting to trillions of dollars are announced around the world.

“One critical step government can take is to earmark part of the stimulus spending for infrastructure. During a crisis of near unprecedented scale, paying people’s wages, supporting the most vulnerable and keeping businesses afloat are important priorities in the immediate term. But these measures alone will not bring long-lasting results. By contrast, investment in new infrastructure, such as hospitals, schools, renewable energy and digital networks, will create jobs and deliver tangible assets that will fuel long-term economic growth.

“We have seen in the past; infrastructure spending is one of the key levers that government can pull to stimulate the economy. Spending on concrete and steel, when well directed, boosts both short-term demand and long-term productivity, especially in a time of economic crisis. According to a 2014 study by the IMF, an increase in capital spending of 1.0% of GDP leads to a 0.4% uplift in output that same year, and a 1.5% rise four years later.”

He noted that this economic dividend occurs because building new infrastructure lays the groundwork for future economic growth, whether that’s an
improved transport network to move goods, a digital backbone to power a new economy or education facilities to train a skilled workforce for the future.

“Moreover, countries that spend on new capital stock tend to attract more private investment – as we have seen time and again, the availability of reliable underlying infrastructure boosts productive capacity and enables sustained economic activity,” Akintemi concluded.

Continue Reading
Advertisement

society

Warmest Birthday Wishes to an Exceptional, Gracious Woman, Mrs Folake Fabiyi ~Oluwaseun Fabiyi

Published

on

Warmest Birthday Wishes to an Exceptional, Gracious Woman, Mrs Folake Fabiyi
~Oluwaseun Fabiyi

 

On this momentous occasion, I am thrilled to honor my beloved sister, Falake, a paragon of kindness and industriousness, on her birthday, today, Friday ayaba Fabiyi Supo, 15th November 2024. Ma, the divine benevolence of God Almighty has bestowed upon you another year of life, replete with promise and opportunity.

It is also an opportune moment to reflect on your blessings and methodically enumerate them, thereby acknowledging the remarkable accomplishments of God in your life

As you commemorate another year of existence today, may the Supreme Being graciously continue to endow your life with success, benevolence, and unwavering favour, and henceforth, every utterance and account regarding you and your household shall be replete with good tidings

I fervently pray that God’s divine guidance and favor will continually be upon you, and may He graciously bestow His kindness upon you now and forever. Please accept my warmest congratulations and sincere best wishes

To my dearest Mummy Precious, I offer my warmest felicitations and hope your birthday celebration is exceptionally eventful.

Warmest Birthday Wishes to an Exceptional, Gracious Woman, Mrs Folake Fabiyi
~Oluwaseun Fabiyi

Oluwaseun Fabiyi a seasoned Journalist writes from Lagos

Continue Reading

society

JUST IN: Supreme Court dismisses Govs’ suit against EFCC legitimacy

Published

on

JUST IN: Supreme Court dismisses Govs’ suit against EFCC legitimacy

 

The Supreme Court has dismissed a suit filed by state governors challenging the legality of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Act and two other anti-corruption agencies.

The court ruled that the suit before it lacked merit, affirming the legality of the EFCC’s establishment and the two other anti-corruption agencies.

More details coming

Continue Reading

society

The Limit Breaker Sierre Leone Day 2- Spirit Brings Liberty When You Obey Instructions – Dr Chris Okafor.

Published

on

The Limit Breaker Sierre Leone Day 2- Spirit Brings Liberty When You Obey Instructions – Dr Chris Okafor.

…. Obedience is the Solution to Limitations

If somebody can start it, somebody can end it, obeying instructions can change any evil patterns in the life of people, pattern of sickness, Poverty, Late marriage and what have you, when you obey instructions you will breakout of the Limitations in your father’s house.

This was the case study at the day 2 of the ongoing The Limit Breaker Conference in Freetown Sierre Leone where over 2 million faithful received Prophetic Blessings from the servant of God, The Generational Prophet of God.

Teaching on the Topic, Breaking out from the Limitations of my Father’s House Part 2, The Convener Chris Okafor world outreach Ministry COWOM and Senior Pastor Grace Nation Global Dr Chris Okafor continue on the highlights said when you obey instructions, you are prone to be free from any bondage of your father’s house.

The Generational Prophet of God also remarked that , it is not that the devil is powerful but because of the lack of Knowledge of the People, he said ignorance is a licence to bondage therefore obedience is majorly the solution to ancestral Limitations, when you obey instructions the spirit that brings liberty locate you and you will be free from bondage and every spirit of Limitations from you father’s house, you will be free from it.

It was another Powerful and Prophetic movement of God at the Conference, God uses his servant the Generational Prophet of God Dr Chris Okafor to do what he knows how to do best, Addressing Various issues, calling Names, Names of villages, while Every evil altars holding people inheritance exposed, Profiling solution to every case file brought to the conference, it was indeed a life changing Prophetic encounter in the life of the good people of Sierre Leone, the testimonies that will come after the three days prophetic encounter will be enormous and according to a participant who will not want her name mention.

The conference continues on Friday 15th November 2024 ,Same Time and Venue

 

Continue Reading

Cover Of The Week

Trending