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Oshodi Market Lagos
Posted by: CareTaker on December 6, 2007 Under: Discussion Lounge, Feature, Life & Culture, Nigeria, People
 Oshodi Market, Lagos Nigeria. Image credit Peter Vlam | African News |
Lagos, the former capital city of Nigeria, is one that thrives on the industry of its inhabitants. People congregate in the city with one agenda in mind: make money. Oshodi Market is one commercial hub in the city of Lagos where this happens…a non-Nigerian visitor will marvel at its level of energy and state of utter chaos embedded in a tight confluence of human and vehicular traffic.
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I know I’ve been gone too long from Nigeria if images of the Oshodi market could provoke deep emotions… I simply pity the folks whose livelihood depend on the market. I get angry, and ask myself why a city that prides itself as “a center of excellence” is content with the eye sore of Oshodi market. How can the traders and their customers be so detached from the state of rot and anarchy without any apparent discomfort?
While I doubt there ever was a formal plan for the establishment of Oshodi market, it’s emergence as a commercial center is a reflection of several multifaceted factors that are typically at play within the Nigerian society. Today, to wish the market away is no longer an option; it will only amount to political suicide and social irresponsibility to shut down the market with executive fiat.
As depressing as Oshodi market looks, there are some good things about the place: It’s an excellent spot to appreciate and study the ingenuity of the Nigerian masses. The folks at the markets are the prime drivers of the Nigerian informal market. Oshodi market is a melting pot and presents a vivid picture of Nigeria’s multi-ethnic composition; it reveals the complexity of the nation’s socioeconomic fabric – the market caters to both rich and poor; local and expatriate; able and disabled; young and old; it’s a confluence of both native and foreign, and it also appeals to the young and old.
However, as rich as Oshodi market is in commerce and human entrepreneurial spirit – the place is a depressing depiction of a rotting society ensnared in an endemic drought of ideas and social responsibility. If there is any truth in the government talks of poverty alleviation and “giving the people the dividend of democracy”, shouldn’t the Lagos state government see the need to this happen right in Oshodi?
There are many metaphorical Oshodi markets scattered all over Nigeria and Africa. For better Oshodi markets to emerge, those called to serve and those being served must become conscious of the anomalies in their lives and societies. Oshodi market is an anomaly whose fix will depend on the ability to willingly and relentlessly pursue an agenda that not only improves the environmental conditions, but brings value to the people.
For starters, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to have the new state governor and all its lieutenants spend a month in the chaos to appreciate the “beauty” of the place. Get them to Oshodi to enjoy the stench, horrid sights of overflowing garbage dumps, and be assaulted by the elements day and night. Get them to relocate from their air-conditioned offices and cars and have them mingle and spend quality time with the people they are in office to serve and whose votes put them in power!
This essay is inspired by these images and blog post.
Muti This
D-Tee | Dec 7, 2007 | Reply
I read somewhere about Nigerians that when we see a pothole, we hardly wonder how it came about, or think of where to get the gravel to fill it up with. Instead, we think of where to get car tires bigger and wide enough to ride over the pothole.
Think of the many houses with barbwire-topped 12 feet walls and the one-generator per house syndrome (some even have multiples). These are the ‘tires’ we have deemed necessary we need in Nigeria, simply because we can’t make things work on a larger scale and for the benefit of the society.
The same mentality applies to the metaphorical Oshodi markets -we all pretend they don’t exist. But for how long are we going to live lives of denial and social irresponsibility?
Omotaylor | Dec 7, 2007 | Reply
Oshodi market is a microcosm of so many other such markets all over Nigeria and also of the lives of the typical Lagosian. One thing is certain, it is a disgrace and a disgrace on both government and people of Nigeria/Lagos that we are not that amenable to change and progress. From my childhood on many things have remained quite the same in Nigeria while progress is being made in many other countries. Ghana of the mid 70s is nothing compared to the Ghana of the 21st century. Ivory Coast is not only uptown but relatively safe and clean (compared to Lagos). Nevertheless Lagos is so hyped you will want to believe (if you are not a Nigerian) that it is made of Gold. Lagos was destined for greatness but our government have not paid needed attention to it. Everyone seems to be in the rat race of chopping Naira.
Okay what to do now. Educate the masses, I will say. Get the campaigns going on the papers, tvs, radios about the need to change and spell out the change areas. But then the government should be seen to be doing something positive to improve Lagos/Nigeria as a starting point for the people to follow suit. Education and communication are the key words in changigng people’s orientation. Hope it is not too late for there is little you can do to straighten a dry bent stick.
john iwuji | May 2, 2008 | Reply
me my coutry nigeria make me shame,istead of going foward we are going backward,nigeria is a coutry that all the system donst work,i live in switzerland but any time i dream of going to nigeria iam allway afraid, the reason that things cant work in nigeria is because of corruption,it has eating all our leader deep to thier bone,they dont think like human being,for the failure is a way of nigera everything jaga jaga is a way of nigeria,untill we got a leader who really want to lead then progress will com,to orther surprise all those so call our leader they use to travel to europe and america and see things for them self but yet they cant make a change