okunoba:

The duty of any reasonable government is to stimulate business growth which in itself increases the tax base revenue of the government. Excessive Land charges will not stimulate growth in the housing sector but will rather slow it down. This  in turn will contribute to unemployment, shortages of houses 4 sale thereby driving up prices and government will also be losing out on tax revenues that would have been genereted from these housing developments.

A reduced or reasonable land charges would reduce cost of development and this will increase the number of investors with the financial power to em berk on such projects. This will trigger an increase in housing development which will reduce unemployment and increase tax revenue which will come from  sales profit, rent income, council tax and personal tax that these development will generate. I think the high land charges is bad from an economic point of view and very short sighted.  The state can and should try to increase it`s tax base but it as to be done sensibly.

Businesses that will increase employment should be encouraged with incentives not discouraged by ill thought out charges. I blame his economic advisers.

Please make it as an open letter, and send to Fashola. He needs to read this one.

selingel:



Please make it as an open letter, and send to Fashola. He needs to read this one.

Good talk.

Sometimes, I wonder whether Fashola thinks at all, before he takes action on somethings.

Berger: Old Oshodi In The Making
January 12, 2010 09:44, 71 views


Lagosians have not stopped appreciating the transformation which has taken place in Oshodi since early last year.

For a long time, Oshodi, a bustling commercial area in Lagos was a metaphor for chaos, disorderliness and filth.

Traders did business just anywhere, including the highway while commercial vehicles were parked indiscriminately and makeshift stalls sprung up without a single care for order.

Social miscreants or area boys were the lords of Oshodi. They belonged to different gangs and they often engaged in bloody clashes in the struggle for turf control. These area boys were also a source of terror to the traders in Oshodi.

But all of these came to an end when the bulldozers of the Lagos State government rolled in. A special task force from the Ministry of the Environment was responsible for the dislodgement of the illegal traders at Oshodi. Its men destroyed illegal stalls, arrested recalcitrant street traders and forced commuter buses to park at designated places. The usually tough-looking miscreants were tamed as the state government ensured a long desired transformation.

While residents and those who do business at Oshodi can heave sighs of relief that the place has become a model for other urban centres, the same cannot be said for the people at Berger, another part of Lagos which is fast deteriorating. Berger is a border community between Lagos and Ogun states.

Visitors to Lagos who come through the Lagos-Ibadan expressway must pass through Berger to get to their destinations. What cannot escape a visitor’s eyes are three imposing white statues at Berger, that welcome them to Lagos. But that is where the beauty ends. If the state government does not make a move, Berger may become what the old Oshodi was.

Already, street traders have taken over Ogunnusi road, especially at night. Some daring ones even display their wares during the day. Nobody seems to like street trading, except for those engaged in it. This feeling is encapsulated in the words of Uyi Edo who said: “the traffic congestion in Lagos should be researched and I am sure about one fact, street trading constitutes at least 35 per cent of the problem. It is a vicious cycle. It is a good idea of the part of governor to decide to stop street trading.”

But the street traders at Berger do not seem to care about the effect their activities on the road. Despite the fact that the officials of the Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) have been tying to get rid of the street traders at Berger, they always make a come back.

The bridge at Berger, which is part of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, is not spared. It is not uncommon to see traders on the bridge. This, many would agree, is a nuisance.

One of the traders who spoke with P.M.Metro said: “The KAI officials usually come to chase us away, not only at night but also during the daytime. They can come at any time.” When asked why they keep coming back, he said the traders have no choice but to come back.

Apart from the street traders, commuter bus operators and commercial motorcyclists park just anywhere. Some of the roads in Berger area have been converted into motor parks. This development has led to regular traffic snarls on the road.

A Lagosian who is very familiar with Berger also complained of the presence of social miscreants in the area.

“Like other parks in Lagos, we have Indian hemp-smoking area boys in Berger,” he said.

Lagosians want Berger cleansed. One of them, Victoria Unem, said: “The popular bus stop called Berger is becoming another Oshodi. I want the government to help put a stop to the activities of those who sell by the road. They should also deal with the area boys there. If they refuse to co-operate, they should be arrested. Government should deploy policemen to prevent those who may want to foment trouble.”

Mary Adamu said the same measures that were taken to transform Oshodi should be used to turn around Berger. “It is being said that Berger is now becoming what Oshodi used to be, with everywhere dirty and crowded. Since we are encountering the same problem, then the same solution should be employed. Government should do exactly what they did in Oshodi. They should send the traders away from the roads, create orderliness in the motor park and employ people to make the road clean and tidy. I think this is the only way Berger will become a place to behold.”

“My opinion on the issue is that government should try to warn the people selling on the highway and let them now the consequences of acting against the state’s laws. Government should also provide support for the people by making more shops available for them,” said Taiwo Mustapha

Ogunwede Kemi like Mary also said government can adopt the same measures it did for Oshodi. “This is a simple issue. What was done in Oshodi should also be done in Berger. Government can apportion a special part of Berger for traders to sell their wares. A park should be created for commercial vehicles that are normally parked along the road.”

One Lagosian was more concerned about the aesthetics. Deborah Oni said: “Flowers should be planted by government along the road. Littering of the road should be discouraged. A conducive place should be provided for the traders. Commuter buses should be compelled to park appropriately.”

If government would endeavour to arrest the mounting problems at Berger, it will be an eloquent testimony to the fact that the authorities are genuinely committed to keeping up the mega city vision.


http://thepmnews.com/2010/01/12/berger-old-oshodi-in-the-making

If there is one thing I will appreciate Fashola for, is the case of Oshodi. That is the only thing that trips me about him.

did u think he cleared oshodi for the sake of Nigerians?

MR OLUWAY may God show us mercy. A ba Nigerian , Lagosian I fear una .

mr_oluway:

did u think he cleared oshodi for the sake of Nigerians?

For what purpose then, because he just did same at Mile 12?.

Enjoyment1:


For what purpose then, because he just did same at Mile 12?.

What he did in Mile 12, was good for that place. He had to send those miscreants away.

Now, he wants to build a new airport in Lagos.

Oboma1:

Now, he wants to build a new airport in Lagos.

the airports in lagos are not fully utilised, why do we need another. fashola should cool down with his development drive or else he will end up with some white elephant projects alias abandoned projects

Lagos deserves another airport. You need to go there daily to see how that structure embarrassed this nation daily.