agbameta:


It's a capitalist economy and it's not up to you to decide to any private investor what and where to invest their money and unlike you ignorant losers, they did their research not only before they invest their money, they also convinced the banks with their sound research and business plan before securing bank loans for the project.

What you villagers need is education instead of running your mouth about issues that are well above your village understanding.

mojeer678:

"ignorant losers", "you villagers", "your village understanding", I wonder how much this dude was paid to spew out these vitriolic. Is it worth it? Do you know that you're doing more harm than good to your principals whose cause you think you're advancing?

From these posts, it's crystal clear that majority of the people are no longer shocked & awed by the propaganda being released from Alausa and Bourdillon and elsewhere. There's a limit to how far you can lead people by the nose.

Most of these grandiose projects smack of elitism and it's disturbing that they often do not reflect the dire needs of the man or woman living in Oko Oba and who have no business going to the island (where it seems a certain potentate has dictated his own share of the largess).

The irony of it all is that people like agbameta and his cohorts know the truth and their rabid retorts are symptomatic of the hatred with which they just have to carry out their distasteful assignments.

They're to be pitied more than derided as they are the classic 'useful idiots'!

gregg2: Bunch of greedy criminals

1) Where is the Lekki International Airport he promised us will be ready by December 2012?

2) What about the Lekki Seaport?

3) Where are the trains we were told he ordered from Canada since 2011?

4) Why is he abandoning the much hyped Lagos - Badagry expressway that he lobbied Fed Govt to handover to him?

5) Why is a state like Lagos still without portable pipeborne water?

hercules07:

What is elitist about a cable car system, the man living in oko oba does not go to the island for trading abi? So, of all the traffic on third mainland bridge, none is from Oko Oba, please find something more intelligent to say when criticizing initiatives as this.

@ Sunny_bobo. You're right. This story sounds fishy. The photo is not dated and could have been taken years ago. The tone of the story smacks of a cover up.

Eyewitnesses saw the old man slumping with blood oozing from his mouth, ears, nostrils & where have you. Someone planted this story to calm fidgety associates & party faithfuls down in the midst of the silent revolution going on in the PDP and the unrest in the APC.

When cult personality is the order of the day in Nigerian political structures, it's inevitable that confusion will reign supreme whenever accidents such as this occur, creating a vacuum in the leadership & the absence of a succession plan will surely spell doom for such a marriage of convenience rather than ideological bed fellows.

@amarilo, Exactly my own thoughts. In the bid to pulling the wool over people's eyes, this tactic has backfired to reveal that the man is probably in a more dire condition, medically speaking. What exactly are they hiding? Is he a superhuman who shouldn't be seen to fall into the same category as 'ordinary mortals'?

Ayekotoo:

I beg you just ignore him. its not by force to stay in Lagos, there are other 35 states in Nigeria. why the fixation on Lagos?

Ropeways Transport floats N81bn Lagos Cable Car mass transit system
MONDAY, 04 FEBRUARY 2013 00:00 JOHN OSADOLOR E-mail Print PDF

Ropeways Transport Limited is investing $500 million (about N81 billion) to launch a cable car mass urban transit system in the nation’s commercial capital, Lagos.

The cable car transit system, the first in the quest in Nigeria to provide commuters affordable, safe, timely and stress-free mode of transportation, particularly in urban centres like Lagos, is being floated by a company owned by Dapo Olumide, former managing director of Virgin Nigeria Airlines; Yemi Osinbajo, former attorney-general and commissioner for justice, Lagos State and Yemi Ogunbiyi, proprietor, Tanus Communications Limited.

Already, Ropeways Transport Limited has signed of a 30-year Franchise Agreement with the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) and the Lagos State Government for the execution of the project.

Under the terms of the agreement, Ropeways Transport will this November, begin the construction of towers, stations and connecting network cables along various routes covered in the first phase of the project, namely, Ijora – Iddo, Iddo – Adeniji, Apapa – Oluwole, Oluwole – Adeniji, Adeniji – Obalende, Obalende – Falomo, and Falomo – Victoria Island. The project is expected to be fully completed and commissioned by early 2015.

The transit system when completed will create about 500 direct jobs, while commuters will pay between N200 and N300 per trip. The African Development Bank is a co-financier of the project.

Dapo Olumide ,chief executive officer of Ropeways Transport Limited, who spoke in Lagos, said the Lagos cable car transit system would provide an alternative means of mass transportation in the city and help ease the current transportation difficulties.

He added that it would restore dignity to commuting because the current situation hampers economic development within the city and negatively impacts the quality of life of its residents.

“By complementing existing transport modes, the Lagos Cable Car Transit System will play its part in reducing the traffic congestion in the city” he said.

According to him, studies show that Lagos will become the world’s third largest city with 25million inhabitants by 2015, with approximately 12 million daily passenger movements and trips in the Lagos Metropolitan Area, set to increase at a rate of six per cent per annum.

“The existing metropolitan highway infrastructure is severely constrained, with journeys to and from work within the city regularly exceeding three hours. In addition, studies carried out in 2009 on vehicle registration show that an additional 200,000 vehicles are registered annually in Lagos State.

This equates to 222 vehicles per kilometre of road in Lagos, which by far outweighs the national average of just 11 vehicles per kilometer of road, with vehicles estimated to contribute more than 70 per cent of the air pollution in Lagos,” he said.

These problems, he said, could be effectively eliminated with this new technology. “Presently, there is a need to ameliorate the existing congestion on the three bridges connecting Lagos Mainland to Lagos Island and to provide a link between Apapa and the Central Business District on Lagos Island, and also to link Victoria Island with the Central Business District of Lagos Island. These are what we hope to achieve with the launch of the cable transit system,” Olumide said.

[b]He described the cable car system as one of the safest means of transport worldwide. According to him, a 2009 study by the Vancouver Metropolitan Transport Agency in Canada determined that passengers were 20,000 times more likely to be involved in a fatal accident in a vehicle than in a cable car.

According to him, when completed, the Lagos cable car transit system would incorporate several standard safety features, including auxiliary drives and hydraulic brakes to prevent passengers being stranded, lightening protection on towers, ropes and stations, as well as solar panels on each cabin roof, to provide power for cabin interior and exterior lighting.

There will also be passenger monitoring with CCTV and audio communication links and passenger address systems.

The project will be powered by several sources namely, IPP’s, dual-fired primary power turbines and dual-fired back up power turbines, with sufficient number of static inverters to provide 30 minutes of backup power.

The Project uses Doppelmayr’s proprietary technology. Founded in 1892, Doppelmayr is a Swiss/Austrian specialist company that manufactures chairlifts, cable cars, gondolas, surface tows for ski and amusement parks, as well as urban transport systems.

Doppelmayr cable car technology has successfully been used in locations like Merida, Venezuela; Roosevelt Island, New York, USA; Caracas, Venezuela; Medellin, Columbia; Portland, Oregon, USA; and Tlemcen, Algeria. Others are Constantine, Algeria; Koblenz, Germany; Ngong Ping, Hong Kong; Sentosa Island, Singapore and Sky Rail, Australia. The company is also presently executing similar projects in Bosporus, Turkey; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; La Paz, Bolivia and recently in London, England.[/b]

mojeer678:
[s]
"ignorant losers", "you villagers", "your village understanding", I wonder how much this dude was paid to spew out these vitriolic. Is it worth it? Do you know that you're doing more harm than good to your principals whose cause you think you're advancing?

From these posts, it's crystal clear that majority of the people are no longer shocked & awed by the propaganda being released from Alausa and Bourdillon and elsewhere. There's a limit to how far you can lead people by the nose.

Most of these grandiose projects smack of elitism and it's disturbing that they often do not reflect the dire needs of the man or woman living in Oko Oba and who have no business going to the island (where it seems a certain potentate has dictated his own share of the largess).

The irony of it all is that people like agbameta and his cohorts know the truth and their rabid retorts are symptomatic of the hatred with which they just have to carry out their distasteful assignments.

They're to be pitied more than derided as they are the classic 'useful idiots'!
[/s]

ba7man: The cable car system should be completed quickly, I'll gladly pay just to ride in one to enjoy the view.

To those hating, you better vote in Governors that will pioneer innovative solutions to your State problems rather than criticize another's effort.

Ropeways Transport floats N81bn Lagos Cable Car mass transit system
MONDAY, 04 FEBRUARY 2013 00:00 JOHN OSADOLOR E-mail Print PDF

Ropeways Transport Limited is investing $500 million (about N81 billion) to launch a cable car mass urban transit system in the nation’s commercial capital, Lagos.

The cable car transit system, the first in the quest in Nigeria to provide commuters affordable, safe, timely and stress-free mode of transportation, particularly in urban centres like Lagos, is being floated by a company owned by Dapo Olumide, former managing director of Virgin Nigeria Airlines; Yemi Osinbajo, former attorney-general and commissioner for justice, Lagos State and Yemi Ogunbiyi, proprietor, Tanus Communications Limited.

Already, Ropeways Transport Limited has signed of a 30-year Franchise Agreement with the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) and the Lagos State Government for the execution of the project.


Under the terms of the agreement, Ropeways Transport will this November, begin the construction of towers, stations and connecting network cables along various routes covered in the first phase of the project, namely, Ijora – Iddo, Iddo – Adeniji, Apapa – Oluwole, Oluwole – Adeniji, Adeniji – Obalende, Obalende – Falomo, and Falomo – Victoria Island. The project is expected to be fully completed and commissioned by early 2015.

The transit system when completed will create about 500 direct jobs, while commuters will pay between N200 and N300 per trip. The African Development Bank is a co-financier of the project.

Dapo Olumide ,chief executive officer of Ropeways Transport Limited, who spoke in Lagos, said the Lagos cable car transit system would provide an alternative means of mass transportation in the city and help ease the current transportation difficulties.

He added that it would restore dignity to commuting because the current situation hampers economic development within the city and negatively impacts the quality of life of its residents.

“By complementing existing transport modes, the Lagos Cable Car Transit System will play its part in reducing the traffic congestion in the city” he said.

kingoflag:

I went thru your old posts o....

Why do you love GEJ so much but hate Fashola?

Rogbese: I very patiently read through the entire post and I must say I'm appalled at the level of insults here. Someone raises an opinion and they're called all sorts of names! Wow!!! I believe we are all very much above this level of mud slinging and should learn to criticise constructively.

Truth be said it's a good idea. HOWEVER, too many past events leave one wondering. Maintenance will be an issue. The current BRT bus system is a case in point. Waterways have also not been full fully explored. The current light rail system is not completed. Too many untied ropes.

We also cannot lose sight of other pressing issues. The education sector is severely lacking, health is almost non existent. Our roads are in such bad shape yet we are forced to pay for mot certification.

A lot has been done but there is SOOO much more to be done.

Rogbese: I very patiently read through the entire post and I must say I'm appalled at the level of insults here. Someone raises an opinion and they're called all sorts of names! Wow!!! I believe we are all very much above this level of mud slinging and should learn to criticise constructively.

Truth be said it's a good idea. HOWEVER, too many past events leave one wondering. Maintenance will be an issue. The current BRT bus system is a case in point. Waterways have also not been full fully explored. The current light rail system is not completed. Too many untied ropes.

We also cannot lose sight of other pressing issues. The education sector is severely lacking, health is almost non existent. Our roads are in such bad shape yet we are forced to pay for mot certification.

A lot has been done but there is SOOO much more to be done.

Lagos rail project receives UK boost

on September 03, 2013 / in Homes & Property 12:27 am / Comments


By Olasunkanmi Akoni

IF the promise of the British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Peter Carter, is anything to go by, British investors will soon key into the multi-billion naira Lagos Blue Line (Okokomaiko-Marina) Rail Project. This is in addition to the support of the British Government via the Department for International Development (DFID).

Lagos Blue Line is one of the seven rail projects planned for the city and it is one of the lines that will constitute the spine of the city rail network. It is being implemented on a Public Private Partnership (PPP) model with the public sector leading the provision of infrastructure while the private sector, under a concession agreement, will be responsible for operations and maintenance. On completion, it is expected to move more than 400,000 passengers daily.



File Photo: On-going structure at the new rail line. INSET: Gov. Fashola being briefed by contractors at construction site

The rail project which is being constructed in phases was designed to significantly reduce congestion along the Lagos-Badagry corridor, improve public transport provision and use and stimulate development along the axis.

Carter gave the assurance during a visit to the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority LAMATA and a tour of the rail project under construction. Commending the state government on the project, the envoy promised to bring to the attention of British investors opportunities available in Lagos, especially in the transport sector.

His words: “One of the things I have learnt from this visit is that there are a lot of opportunities for British companies to get involved here. This is the message I will take away with the aim of encouraging British companies to look seriously at this project and the opportunities more widely in the city of Lagos.”

He expressed delight at the pace of work on the light rail describing it as an impressive project “the engineering behind it, the strategic plan, which underpins it and the expectation that this is going to help residents move around the city more easily and perhaps crucially take traffic off the road.”

Carter also promised that the British Government would continue to support developmental projects which would positively impact on citizens of developing countries to make them more productive for the benefit of their economy.

He disclosed that the British Government had been making contributions behind the scene to the rail project. “In terms of British involvement, we are already involved through the Department for International Development. We make significant contributions behind the scene through the financing of the provision of technical expertise,” he stated.

The Director of Public Transport, LAMATA, Engr. Gbenga Dairo, who conducted Carter round the project, said the state government was already considering extending the construction from the National Theatre to Marina to bring the total length constructed during the current phase to about 11 kilometres. The Blue Line rail project will cover a distance of 27 kilometres all together at completion.

agbameta:


So, because of your pointless list of shortcomings, we should sit on our hands and refuse to allow $500 million private investments and accompanying jobs?

We should turn our backs on needed infrastructures because the metro is not completed.


We should stop creating jobs because BRT is not properly maintained.


We shouldn't have ordered new 50/200 capacity boats from Australia

We should just ignore and block all private investments till we finish the metrol rail, till we build and equip all our schools and hospitals...


Sometimes I wonder about you and your upside down thinking and I thank God that you people are not making decisions at Alahusa.

Gbawe.:


No disrespect but I don't think you read through the thread as "patiently" as you claim. If you did then you should have noted that this cable transport system is not being built at the expense of those considerations. It is about a Lagos State project the private sector is comfortable putting its finance into. The Lagos cable project is a PPP arrangement between Lagos State and Ropeways transport. Ropeways will operate and maintain the system for 30 years.

The same cannot apply to education and health for obvious reasons I hope I do not have to explain related to how States can only attract Private sector funding to certain sectors and initiatives. Agreed Lagos will simply have to do more in regards to education, roads and health but the State is trying to stretch relatively meagre resources while coping with a dearth of assistance from the FG. Those aware of Lagos State's serious financial constraint and even physical burden, discountenanced dishonestly by the FG through a bogus census, will know what I mean.

If a light rail system is to be built in Abuja then the FG may fund it 100% yet Lagos has to use PPP for everything and shop for funding with its own efforts as if it is a Nation separate from Nigeria !!!! This is why I find it ludicrous some are asking what has happened to the Lekki Port, airport, light rail et al. Those are all staged project heavily dependent on private sector funding Lagos has to chase, secure and deliver !!!!!

With the light rail for example, we see the great deal of work that has been put in already and every genuine Lagosian will know the constraint facing the State government Fashola is trying to bridge (see article below). Serious work, that has gulped a fortune, has gone into the light rail and we can all see things are advanced and on course yet some will come here to rain abuse on Fashola when most projects (Lekki Airport, FTZ, light rail et al) are private sector reliant to begin with !!!! Insulting Fashola over such is not an "opinion". It is character assassination borne of bad belle and ignorance. We all know Fashola completes projects. He would be the last administrator in Nigeria to delay a project if uninterrupted funding is available for every stage.

Relatively small-cost PPP initiatives, offering attractive ROI for the Private sector partner and which can be concessioned completely, tend to come on board quicker with minimal fuss and delay like this cable car project costing around $500 million. It is essential we criticise logically and sensibly and a lot of people are not doing that here. This is a good and needed addition to the currently inadequate transport mix that does not come as an opportunity cost to anything else.


https://www.nairaland.com/newpost?topic=1469472&post=18673722

Gbawe.:


No disrespect but I don't think you read through the thread as "patiently" as you claim. If you did then you should have noted that this cable transport system is not being built at the expense of those considerations. It is about a Lagos State project the private sector is comfortable putting its finance into. The Lagos cable project is a PPP arrangement between Lagos State and Ropeways transport. Ropeways will operate and maintain the system for 30 years.

The same cannot apply to education and health for obvious reasons I hope I do not have to explain related to how States can only attract Private sector funding to certain sectors and initiatives. Agreed Lagos will simply have to do more in regards to education, roads and health but the State is trying to stretch relatively meagre resources while coping with a dearth of assistance from the FG. Those aware of Lagos State's serious financial constraint and even physical burden, discountenanced dishonestly by the FG through a bogus census, will know what I mean.

If a light rail system is to be built in Abuja then the FG may fund it 100% yet Lagos has to use PPP for everything and shop for funding with its own efforts as if it is a Nation separate from Nigeria !!!! This is why I find it ludicrous some are asking what has happened to the Lekki Port, airport, light rail et al. Those are all staged project heavily dependent on private sector funding Lagos has to chase, secure and deliver !!!!!

With the light rail for example, we see the great deal of work that has been put in already and every genuine Lagosian will know the constraint facing the State government Fashola is trying to bridge (see article below). Serious work, that has gulped a fortune, has gone into the light rail and we can all see things are advanced and on course yet some will come here to rain abuse on Fashola when most projects (Lekki Airport, FTZ, light rail et al) are private sector reliant to begin with !!!! Insulting Fashola over such is not an "opinion". It is character assassination borne of bad belle and ignorance. We all know Fashola completes projects. He would be the last administrator in Nigeria to delay a project if uninterrupted funding is available for every stage.

Relatively small-cost PPP initiatives, offering attractive ROI for the Private sector partner and which can be concessioned completely, tend to come on board quicker with minimal fuss and delay like this cable car project costing around $500 million. It is essential we criticise logically and sensibly and a lot of people are not doing that here. This is a good and needed addition to the currently inadequate transport mix that does not come as an opportunity cost to anything else.


https://www.nairaland.com/newpost?topic=1469472&post=18673722

He disclosed that the British Government had been making contributions behind the scene to the rail project. “In terms of British involvement, we are already involved through the Department for International Development. We make significant contributions behind the scene through the financing of the provision of technical expertise,” he stated.

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN
(middle) flanked by the British High Commissioner, Mr. Andrew Pocock (right) and the British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Peter Carter (left) during a breakfast meeting at the Deputy British High Commissioner’s
residence in Lagos, on Tuesday, September 24, 2013

gregg2: Bunch of greedy criminals

1) Where is the Lekki International Airport he promised us will be ready by December 2012?

2) What about the Lekki Seaport?

3) Where are the trains we were told he ordered from Canada since 2011?

4) Why is he abandoning the much hyped Lagos - Badagry expressway that he lobbied Fed Govt to handover to him?

5) Why is a state like Lagos still without portable pipeborne water?

Rogbese:

And just like that, you prove my point.



Thanks for your observation. You may notice that I never knocked the Fashola administration on this initiative. I pointed out that maintenance has always been the bane of successive administrations. What he is doing is laudable, I only point out that there are a lot of other areas where this kind of focused drive is needed.

agbameta:

But you stated that you read the whole thread before commenting so that was obviously a lie because it was stated in this same thread that one of the investors is Doppelmayr Cable Car company, they are the best in the business and they built the one in London, this is their work and equipment and they are going to do the maintaining, not Fashola or the Lagos state government....


We complicate things and get into needless argument because people don't know anything and they don't read up on anything before commenting.

Rogbese:

I won't get into an exchange of words with you. Is the BRT bus system not a collaboration of government and private sector? How well has that gone? I have nothing against Fashola, he is a man who has dared to tread where others feared. I am very much against persons that hide behind their phones, tablets or PC's and hurl insults because someone else has a difference of opinion. @gbawe responded to my post without insults but you opened your reply by insulting me and others that have aired one view or the other. Not cool.

Rogbese:


Thanks for your observation. You may notice that I never knocked the Fashola administration on this initiative. I pointed out that maintenance has always been the bane of successive administrations. What he is doing is laudable, I only point out that there are a lot of other areas where this kind of focused drive is needed.

ba7man: Don't talk about what you don't know. Do you even live in Lagos?? The BRT system is still fully effective and functional so don't try to paint a picture that its a failure.

The system is 6 years old so don't expect all the buses to keep looking brand new but between sunday and today, I rode in 3 brand new buses with the nylon still on their seats.

Save your wish for failure on the BRT system for your car if you use it commercially for 6 years and if you don't like the buses, use the yellow buses or search for a Molue.

Gbawe.:


I have nothing against anything you wrote at all. In fact, folks like you are the welcomed critics who perhaps can benefit from a bit more information about the overall situation in its entirety so that you gain a better grasp of the true picture. When I talked of the need to criticise fairly I meant others you defended when you said they were merely contributing "opinions". You may be a decent person and likely speaking for yourself but believe me that there are loads of people here who just operate out of bigotry and ethnic hatred of others. People know them and this is why their submissions here is met with 'aggression'.

No one here, perhaps except Agbameta with his linkage of this to what obtains elsewhere, has reflected on how this is something other African nations can currently only dream about. Same as I want to take my kids to ride the famed Rio cable lines in Brazil is how Burkinabes, Cameroonians, Ghanaians, Togolese, Beninoise, Chadians et al will be eager to experience something they connote to be common[b] only[/b] to nations outside our continent that African nations admire and want to imitate. Are these not the sort of projects, aside addressing a real transport deficiency, that brings immense glory to Nigeria? Why can some not be proud of that and discuss this on its own merit instead of the senselessly toxic negativity we have seen displayed here?

Many unhealthy reasons ("bad belle" for others, 'habitual' negativity for the sake of it alone and bastardized ethos) has ridiculously rendered many on this thread incapable of realising what this cable transport project is.

Rogbese:

I do live in Lagos and ride the bus everyday. I have a pass card and I don't pray for failure in anything paid for with good money. Thank you for your comments. The truth is, I won't be brought down to levels beneath me by answering abuse with same.

Rogbese:

I won't get into an exchange of words with you. Is the BRT bus system not a collaboration of government and private sector? How well has that gone? I have nothing against Fashola, he is a man who has dared to tread where others feared. I am very much against persons that hide behind their phones, tablets or PC's and hurl insults because someone else has a difference of opinion. @gbawe responded to my post without insults but you opened your reply by insulting me and others that have aired one view our the other. Not cool.

anonimi:

COMPULSORY? Abeg tell us this is your idea of a joke!!!

* What % of school age (5-16) children in Lagos STATE are out of school
- to have an estimate, just check how many of such children you see when you drive to/from work & go out on lunch break or for appointments/meetings etc GIVEN THAT schools are supposed to be in session at that time!

* What % of those actually in school are enrolled in private (as opposed to the so-called government "free" schools that are not adequately monitored & supervised by LASG and LGA agencies?

* Can one conclude IF Tinubu & his boy boy, Fashola progressed or REGRESSED the sterling legacies of Awolowo and Jakande, 60 & 30 years ago respectively in the education sector during their combined 14 years of boju-boju (hide&seek) "progressive" governance

Maybe Oga Fash and his crowd of MUMUcious supporters believe sey na by build cable car transport na im dem take dey be 1st world.
He should ask his oga at the top whether na cable car im go London go look abi na the excellent medical service im go get due to heavy, dedicated, focused and consistent investment in free & COMPULSORY education for children by various tiers of the British government

meccuno: is that your solution to every problem? Maybe you should declare lagos a country and cede from Nigeria.....if that would make u happy

Rogbese: I very patiently read through the entire post and I must say I'm appalled at the level of insults here. Someone raises an opinion and they're called all sorts of names! Wow!!! I believe we are all very much above this level of mud slinging and should learn to criticise constructively.

Truth be said it's a good idea. HOWEVER, too many past events leave one wondering. Maintenance will be an issue. The current BRT bus system is a case in point. Waterways have also not been full fully explored. The current light rail system is not completed. Too many untied ropes.

We also cannot lose sight of other pressing issues. The education sector is severely lacking, health is almost non existent. Our roads are in such bad shape yet we are forced to pay for mot certification.

A lot has been done but there is SOOO much more to be done.

confusion247:
Guy take it easy, soon they will blame Jonathan or the people of south east for promise not fulfilled. What else do you expect from multitudes that celebrate looters(Tinubu) and drug addicts/mentally deranged(Kayode) as leaders?
eko ni baje ooooo

lastpage:

Thank you for your post jare.
I am Yoruba, l dont give a hoot about any political party or personality-followership and l an NOT a beneficiary of neither the 40-Laptop nor the 40-iPad! I have been using a computer since those days when they only come along as a dumb terminal and weigh a ton on your "special table".

You can call me any name you like, l no send.
If l see what l think is wrong or needs further attention, l will say it wella.
I dont follow the crowd or pledge "blind allegiance" to anything or anybody,.... not even to my tribal brothers.
That is why l am Yoruba! .... and l must say that some of us are not living up to the billing in our recent discussions.

Granted, some Ndigbo will criticize and try to rubbish anything that has its origins in Lagos/Yoruba or even APC (OPC? ) but then, like l always say, "we must never forget who we are" nor forget why we are always a cut above the rest.

The reason is "our ability to self-evaluate, self-criticize and self-regulate".

We "improve and refine" in all these criticisms and l expect most of my brothers here to learn to take criticisms, even when you "honestly" consider it unjustified, .......in your stride.
But there are also "honest criticisms" which YOU might not be aware of and the fact that it comes from an "Igbo-hater" (as you often label it) is not enough reason to ignore it, gloss-over it or deny it outrightly!

For example, looking at the population demographics of Lagos state, l will honestly expect the govt to make "mass transit options", its priority .... and to START such mass transit projects, in areas where there are more people (numerically) so that even more of the masses will feel the benefit of such projects.

Mind you, l am not saying that if you locate such projects in Ikoyi or lekki, that there wont be users/customers for it; my point is that it benefits more people, who actually need it most, as they have no "better alternative" ....(compared to affluent people of Lekki and Ikoyi who probably have three cars parked in their compound and rarely commute long distance to their homes, from work)... ..
if "low income and densely populated areas" of the state take priority in the location of such projects.

Now, l understand that "private initiative projects are strictly FOR PROFIT" and if a user from Lekki can conveniently pay #100 to use the service, his counterparts from Mushin, Ikorodu, Bariga or Makoko might not be able to afford more than #50 for the same service thus, a profit oriented private investor would make his choice wisely!
But then, this is where "responsible and responsive governance" comes into play.
Government has a duty not just to the rich but even more to the poor. It is a social responsibility and it is not uncommon in "sane climes" for Govt to partly fund a project in order to make it locate to a particular "low-yield area" where it would benefit the "numerically-larger, masses".

Some have been quick to point out that some "masses-oriented projects" have been slow or seem abandoned, in favor of "for-profit and elitist-location projects" in Ikoyi, V.I and Lekki axis.
Well, facts on the ground seem to support this assertion and what l expect any "omoluabi" to do is examine this critically (for example, the badagry road under construction, inland waterways transport, pipe borne water, e.t.c. dont even get me started about the state of our BRT System!) and either adduce intelligent reasons on why they appear stalled/stopped or proffer reasons why they could not be completed/initiated as expected.

Instead, what we get is a lot of rancid and foul-mouthed abuse at anyone who dares raise a divergent opinion like we are all supposed to subscribe to the 40-Laptop/i-Pad sheep mentality! Very un-Yorubaic!

That Lagos is miles above most, if not all other Nigerian states is as obvious as daylight, especially most states in the East of Nigeria and l can understand when some (Yorubas) ask them to "remove the lump from their eyes before pointing out the gnat form the eyes of others".

In essence, they are saying "do you criticize your own Governors, who are doing virtually nothing in your state, the way you descend on Fashola and Lagos"? Thus, l will admonish our Igbo brothers to let 'charity begin at home' ....without neglecting the outside as well.
Let us see the "fairness" in your criticism.

We all travel to the East, irrespective of whether you are Yoruba, Igbo or Hausa and we use those "death traps" and erosion riddled roads in the East. What are Igbos doing about this? What are you doing about your Governors that come to "spend weekend in Lagos or Abuja" while leaving their people in abject poverty? Do l see you criticizing them openly as you do Fashola and Lagos?

let us all be objective and redefine our criticisms, let is not be "ethnic based" or based on a "we against them" mentality as this is what the politicians want ...and take advantage-of.

Always remember, bad roads in the East dont kill Igbos alone, plane crash in Lagos dont kill Yorubas alone neither does Boko Haram in the North, killing Northerners alone. Our dilapidated educational and health sector affects all our kids, (Yoruba,Igbo and Hausa) so why should any of us keep quiet if we see and think it needs addressing?

We may "go on a yabbis galore" at ourselves but in the end, we are still "Brothers and Sisters"!
We can disagree heatedly but we should let reason prevail at the end of the day!

****Waiting for the flaks*****

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