Lagos at a Tipping Point?

Posted by: CareTaker on March 3, 2008 Under: Discussion Lounge, Editor's Pick, Nigeria

Is Lagos, Nigeria’s mega city, on the verge of a major change? A prominent Lagos-based talk-show host, Funmi Iyanda, observes some recent changes in the city:

The first thing I noticed was the huge new refuse trucks and the cleaner highways, the new Lekki road of course is fabulous and driving down the road was a pleasure. Then there are the road marking, the street cleaners, the traffic managers…The truth be told, there is a sense of focus and concerted efforts that one gets from the Lagos state government. The best part of it for me is that there is no cloying newspaper adverts to announce these, no cringing propaganda, and no fuss, just slow but steady progress.

Readers are welcome to upload pictures/video of those recent changes in Lagos. Head for the community pages to start

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12 comment(s)

Omotaylor | Mar 6, 2008 | Reply

I must give it to the Lagos State governor Fashola. His cabinet is working hard and mean business. The public mass transportation system is another accolade to add to the list above. But then due to the mentality and attitude of the typical Lagosian, it is still hard to note the difference if you are inside Lagos itself. Crazy driving, go slows, road corpses, street hawkers, beggars invasion, illegal kiosks, dirty smelly gutters, over smokey polluted vehicles, etc etc still very much the Lagos scene. How sad. Makes me really wonder what is really wrong with Lagosians.
CareTaker | Mar 7, 2008 | Reply

I’m convinced that even with the best administrator, Lagos will only improve a little until the mindset of the people switch, and they start seeing the need to take ownership of their world.
Omotaylor | Mar 8, 2008 | Reply

So the question now is how do we tackle the problem of the dogmatic and stagnant mindset of the people? Educate them we would tend to say, but Educating them has proven futile too. e.g. crossing the motorways, even with the arrests, fines etc and moreso as it is for the people’s safety more than anything else, Lagosians will still shun overhead bridges and dart across the dangerous, traffic congested roads. I used the overhead bridges a few times and it was not dangerous or difficult. Beggars menace which seemed curbed only a few months ago, hawking, littering, illegal kiosks etc are other examples of futile projects. Ha this is Lagos. Any ideas from anyone on how to change the mindset of the typical Lagosians?
CareTaker | Mar 8, 2008 | Reply

I won’t pretend to be a propaganda expert, but I know for sure that just having TV, billboard and radio messages won’t do much. Changing the mindset of people that have been burdened by several failed governments and initiatives will require a systematic, consistent and thorough approach. Changing mindset of the people is all about asking them to take ownership of the democratic and social processes.

Can we start in the primary schools and start teaching kids the value and importance of leadership?

Can the school curriculum include classes on democracy and what it’ss about? Civic classes shouldn’t be about being able to list the 36 states in the federation; it should include a good dose of history as well as the effects of corruption.

Kids should be taught how democracy works and what it demands and how to operate the various components of the institution. How many know the relevance of the legislatures?

How many Nigerians/Lagosians know that their representatives can be approached and should be approached to help champion their local causes?

How many lobby group/pressure groups exist, and how many attend legislative sessions to monitor issues and sell their agenda to this representatives?

There several other instances. The knowledge brings about a mindset change, and the sooner this knowledge is impacted the better.
Omotaylor | Mar 8, 2008 | Reply

Caretaker, thanks for this well thought out useful comment. I am a staunch beleiver in catching them young. I aim to run a nursery primary school in Nigeria in the not too distant future and will bear in mind your comment. On the issue of approaching representatives to champion local causes, from what I witnessed when I escorted friends to see some political office holders, I dont know how approachable these reps are in championing causes. Nevertheless, I shall keep all your suggestions in mind both for personal use and educating the people when in position to. Thanks. For i will contribute as always my own quota.
Pamela | Mar 8, 2008 | Reply

Going slightly off tangent here: I just got back from a very multicultural meeting and there someone asked me, “so is Lagos rural”. I said “rural in terms of what”. He said, “rural in terms of roads, cleanliness etc”. I answered, ” Lagos is considered as being the New York of Africa”. In my heart, I was saying “Manhattan, my ——”.

I don’t know where Funmi is passing through but from the news I am getting, nothing much has changed. Lagos is still Lagos. Lagos of swimming cars,dirt, rubbish heaps, chaos and disorganization.

Yes, I have been convinced to remove the blinkers from my eyes.
pammy | Mar 8, 2008 | Reply

I mean “New York, my —-”

Honestly, how do I answer those questions: I want to put a positive spin but these days, I really do not have the spinning ability on my tongue.

Lagos is Rough!!
Lola | Mar 9, 2008 | Reply

I was in Lagos over Xmas (I have recently moved from London to NY) and I did not see all of the cleanliness and development that Funmi mentions….The roads are generally a mess, there is still no lighting at night, chaos still rules. The Lekki Road is just one road! I don’t think people should be jumping up and down and praising the state governor over 1 road - let’s raise our standards and praise them when they make all roads in Lagos great. Lagos has a very very long way to go before you can compare it to New York. Actually Johannesburg is in a much better state in terms of development, good traffic system, cleanliness etc (although the public transportation still leaves a lot to be desired) than Lagos.
I agree that the mindset of the people needs to change. I think Lagosians do not have a preservation mindset or seem too care much about what goes on in their environment beyond what affects them individually. This needs to change.
CareTaker | Mar 9, 2008 | Reply

It’s easier for Funmi to spot the differences since she’s based in Lagos, I think. Lagos has a long way to go, no doubt. As we strive to attain a higher standard, we also need to celebrate our accomplishments even if little, what is important is not losing sight of all that needs to accomplished. Rome wasn’t built in day.
Misi | Mar 10, 2008 | Reply

@ Caretaker, fine Rome wasn’t built in a day is just an excuse to justify our inadequacies? Iyanda’s statement was well categorized by Lola – “the people’s mindset need to change”. Nigerians are complacent and accept anything that is thrown their way regardless of its standard e.g. this is evidenced by the sub-standard telecommunication, the leadership etc. The mentality that our leaders are doing us a favor by doing anything at all….WRONG, it is our right. It’s easy for a Lagosian living in Lagos to say ‘Lagos is better’ because it doesn’t take much to please them—- All it takes is some refuse dumps here and there - and everything looks great and on a verge of a major metamorphosis. We need to stop settling for mangy handouts and start making demands for a healthier and functional environment. We know they can do it because we’ve seen it in Calabar and during Marwa’s regime in Lagos.
Lets stop kidding ourselves on the saying that “Rome wasn’t built in a day” otherwise we will never truly improve the chaos called Lagos, and we’ll continue to live in mediocrity.
Lola | Mar 10, 2008 | Reply

I agree wholeheartedly with Misi. Small steps are encouraging, but it must all be kept in perspective. A couple of good things does not mean that Lagos has reached a ‘tipping point’, nor do I think it’s really healthy for the state government to believe that the small progressions they have made so far - albeit good ones - are enough to really make Lagosians shout for joy. Lagosians need to remain somewhat cynical and say ‘ok, thanks for that - and what about everything else you need to do?’ and stay that way until the job is totally completed. Like Misi said, it’s the government’s DUTY, their responsibility to do these things, and it’s the people’s RIGHT to have these things. The tipping point will be when Lagos is close to be the type of major city that it’s meant to be, right now, it’s not.
Omotaylor | Mar 10, 2008 | Reply

My own addition is that I hope and pray that the changewagon which has begun will continue and be sustained. Many have started the race to do something different and good in Lagos and have fallen by the way side, while their change seeds fall on thorny soil, hence the viscious cycle of Lagos. What we need is continued, progressive and effective change which includes as mentioned by Caretaker above, resolute change of the people’s mindset. By the way, I agree that the government(s) is/are not doing the people a favour when they carry out tasks that they are well paid for, not to mention the renummerations.

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From Afrosphere 09.03.08 « simphani: | Mar 9, 2008

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