Re: Why Nigeria’s largest city is even less navigable than usual

                    Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State


A recent publication by The Economist and culled by ThisDay and Punch under the headline of ‘Why Nigeria’s Largest City Is Even Less Navigable Than Usual”, is at best unfair and uncomplimentary in its analysis of the traffic situation and the efforts of the State Government, under the leadership of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to address a perennial problem that the writer acknowledges as unfathomable.

While it is not the intention to join issues we wish to state categorically that it is uncharitable to describe after acknowledging the Administration as“new”(having been in existence for only 5 months) as ‘less competent’. Obviously, there are challenges of traffic hiccups.

It is also true that it is not a new challenge. The traffic situation has been the story of Lagos: Nigeria’s land of opportunity and the land of our collective prosperity. Had past Administration banished or conquered the situation the new Administration will not have inherited it. But that is not to say anything beyond the preparedness of the Administration to deal with it.

Hitherto many strategies have been adopted by previous Administrations. Of particular note is the restriction of movement based on plate numbers (Odd and Even). It failed because Lagosians simply bought new cars.Also the establishment of LASTMA to manage the traffic is a step towards sanity.By the admission and acknowledgement of the writer, LASTMA had become an organization out of control.

He vividly captured the situation when he wrote “Cars were terrified into order by a State Traffic Agency LASTMA whose bribe-hungry Officers flagged down offending drivers”. The question to ask here is should the Administration continue to condone the recklessness of some officers of the Agency? What the author had also failed to consider is the number of lives lost to the mode of arrest adopted hitherto by LASTMA. There were reported clashes with transport union members, drivers and many other groups.

Often times it degenerated into violence on the roads. Was it then wrong for the Governor to protect lives of people by charging LASTMA to adopt more subtle ‘Apprehend, Caution and Ticket’ (ACT) approach to undertaking its responsibilities?

Like many others who have commented on the Governor’s directive, the writer is also guilty of misinterpretation. For the author the challenge is “Policy deficiency by the Ambode Administration”.He writes “Mr. Ambode cut the powers of traffic controllers by banning them from impounding cars. In retaliation, officers have refused to enforce the rules”. It is indeed a preposterous thing to adduce.

LASTMA had not refused directives rather it is in fact “actioning” the Governor’s directive. Really, it is to be stated that the pace of respond may not be as fast. But that is to be expected. The change of guard in the Agency is in essence a follow up to the new expectation by the Administration of the Agency.

It is here important to restate the Governor’s directive. LASTMA officials should ensure free flow of traffic and should adopt booking of traffic offenders rather than apprehending their vehicles, a situation that occasionally results in violence.

Governor Ambode did not just wake up with the intention to court mayhem on the roads. Far from it. Rather the thinking behind the policy is to treat drivers and commuters as human beings. As this perception gains ground, the city landscape, traffic-wise, will take better shape. It is still to be proven that this cannot be the case.

Since that policy, over 800 vehicles have been given tickets and fined. The fact is that there is a robust database that captures details of all 1.5 million vehicles that daily commute on Lagos roads.

They have not been captured just for the sake of data but rather to provide critical information on which very effective transport management system can be founded.

Again there is the issue of excuses, as the writer calls the explanation given about the traffic situation. The question here is are they facts or excuses? For anyone familiar with Lagos, its topography disposes it to flash floods and consequently, to traffic. It is also a fact that there are many more people in Lagos. As the economy of many States suffer, Lagos becomes a destination of sorts where dreams are realized and fulfilled. One of the skills they bring is transport related. Serious analysis shows many enter without obedience to the law. Can we then say they should not do so.

To refer to less fastidious people as the plank upon which the government is judged as weak, is to say the least a misnomer. Lagosians deserve to be treated humanely. It is the rule in other climes. Law Enforcement Agencies are responsible for dealing with those who fail to obey the law. Enforcement strategies give character to both the Agency and the Administration. Ambodehas a right to be mindful of his legacies and public perception of his Administration.We must acknowledge his right to dream.

There is a need to allay the writer’s fears when he concludes his piece: The biggest concern is that the gridlock is a sign of a breakdown in relations between security forces, government agencies and the new Governor.

Our assurance is that the bucks stop at the table of the Governor. Not only has he demonstrated leadership but also has a listening ear when it comes to security and the State’s economy. He recently read the riot out to “Danfo” (yellow coloured commercial buses) and okada riders on the need to obey traffic laws. He has also embarked on massive lightening up of the Lagos roads as an immediate response to the robberies just as the various security Agencies continue to move against criminals across the State.

Recently, a “Zero tolerance for potholes was launched by the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure. This has seen the Ministry’s officials- Engineers, mount a massive onslaught on bad roads across the State, along with Public Works Corporation.

Running through the piece is a comparison with Governor Fashola years. Eight years is compared to four months. Governor Fashola had indeed given Lagos a sense of sanity. He brought order tothings. He had used power to enthrone order but Governor Ambode will rather engage the people and build an enduring culture of obedience and acceptance and respect of the laws; very much like a partnership based on self reinforcing mutual respect. To start on that road from the early days of his Administration, is not the sign of a Governor who has lost control but one who has started on a road that will lead all of Lagos to excel.

The vision is to build a safe and efficient city. It is the vision of a new Lagos that people voted for and the Governor is giving life to. The gridlock will be dislodged when tank farms build and operate parks, the road is laid bare of articulated vehicles parking indiscriminately on roads and an electronic platform managing the presence of this category of vehicle on our roads is put in place.

Lagos is a victim of its prosperity. For its prosperity to remain, it is to this same Governor that we must look. All who mean well must provide a plank of support rather than distract him withless than fair criticisms that do not have suggest an atom of the direction he must go. Talk they say is cheap. It is our hope, that all of us will drive on the road to Lagos’ prosperity by being law abiding. The intermodal transportation system will emerge under Ambode’s watch. It is the obvious solution; it is
being pursued.

Biola Fagunwa,
Deputy Director,
Press and Public Relations,
Ministry of Transportation,
The Secretariat,
Alausa, Ikeja.