ba7man: Though its a good thing the Lagos State Government is curtailing the excesses of the population but there also has to be a balance. I respect the idea of the banning of Okadas till i decided to drop my car at home and take public transport to Ikeja....the ban is d right thing to do but mehn!!!...that day wasn't easy. And there are people that go thru this everyday. Yes, those ghettos are unsightly and dirty, clearing them is the right thing to do...until i witnessed the aftermath of a demolishion. Women, Children and men crying and lamenting. I then faced the reality that they had to be a better way to solving this same issue, there has to b a middle ground.

thoth:
I lived in china for several years and one of the town planning doctrines was the goverment always provides a piece of land that serves as a market for each community, each community is a walkable distance from the next. If the goverment has provided goverment owned space for community markets you will not see the chicken sellers there. I would like to enquire further as those traders were chased away were they provided alternative space ? Ofcourse Not,and what do you expect them to do with their chickens ? And where would the residents buy their chickens ? Probably out of town where the chicken traders ran to OR to the big superstores like Shoprite(no bargaining allowed) etc which is probably owned by those elites. Think very well each community always have a small market that services its residents,no one put it there but it starts up naturally cus that is what it should be and town planners(professional ones) put that into their calculation but just like a socialist i use to know once said " Elitist could not be reasonable, it ceases to exist once it does".
The thugs that deficate will always deficate whether it is an open space or a garden and that is a matter civility and discipline and not necessarily as a result of the presence of the traders.

0lumide: Don't get it wrong though, privatization is the worst thing that could happen in an emerging economy.

We need more public enterprise if not our government will be back to borrowing. Government need to start taking management serious.

We need government hand in resources. it belongs to the ppl not government so they have no right to auction licenses.

We want full control of resources by government not private companies.

Privatization put control of Labour, and wealth in hands of rich.

Starting with the Nationalization of all our resources..pay off the thieving west and send them away from our land. Privatization is a trojan horse..in the united snakes of America,the number of empty house is three times more than the number of homeless people.

You can not auction off resources in an attempt to escape your responsibility to the people. `

Telecom, power other man made enterprises should be for free market but resources and whatever is gotten from it belong to the people 100% You can auction off management contracts but not the entire company!!

IMF is dictating policies to PDP. 2015, IMF will lose Nigeria because power will change!

cap28: very interesting article about the much praised Fashola, his plans for lagos and their implications for the poor of lagos who make up almost 70% of the population of lagos:

Lagos State is presently the most indebted state in the country. As at June 30, 2012, Lagos state is said to have accumulated an external debt profile of $517,677,672 (more than half a billion dollars), despite having a monthly revenue of about N33 billion. This debt is strangely increasing by the year and the government seems at liberty borrowing as if these debts will once again enjoy forgiveness or grow wings and fly away.

http://www.workersalternative.com/national-issues/156-ra

senbonzakura_kageyoshi:

One fact is that, we can't become the developed country we are aiming for without dropping the vestiges of under development. All those slums, okadas and stuff....they've got to go. I support resettling displaced people....but one thing you have to knw is that....Lagosians only learn the hard way. Even if you resettle the current crop of slum dwellers, another set will move in or spring up else where. Lagos state is doing the job of the FG and other state governments when you consider hw many people troop into Lagos on a daily basis. You can't expect the state government to cater for the ever expanding population with the limited allocation from the Federal government. We live in a society that is increasingly capitalist, yet the state government tries to take care of its responsibilities. Give it some credit.

modupea:

Hey bros, I don't agree with you on this. I live in that locality and I bear witness to what he said. There is a market nearby called Alade Market and there then was Chicken seller stalls. But these people moved there wares to the bus stop area because there was no rule of law. They are back to where they belong. Another example, on Carter bridge at the Lagos Island end, some years ago I dare not drive through that area because of people displaying their wares. For your information, larger percentage of them have shops inside the market but now, though there is still street trading, I go through the road to my workplace. It even reduces pressure on third mainland bridge. The government must act sometimes harshly to get things done. There are too many people in Lagos. Everyone wants to get to Lagos. Maybe there should be an head count based on the state of origin then the states should start paying some percentage of their allocation to Lagos to take care of their citizens.

llljoseph1: I totally agreed with you my dear. It’s good to transform Lagos but you have to consider lots of things. How many low cost houses have the government build for displaced poor when you destroy their homes? Do you build any industry when you take okada out of the road? etc

Paentera:

One thing - the loans for LASG are development loans payable over a thirty (30) year period and at a rate of 1%. If he didn't do that borrowing today to uplift the infrastructure of the state, one day you'll turn around to blame him for not taking the opportunity when it was available. Stop being alarmist with half told stories.

thoth: What these people never do is to investigate the history of nations that has passed through this evil process we are going through and see how they ended up.
The people should try to look at the people that borrow there governors these money, try to find out the conditions on which these debts were given, and from contemporary events extrapolate the intended results.
For those majority who never wants to bother themselves with research what is going on in lagos and other nigerian states is that the international banks is buying up nigeria or in other words turning nigerian into money making machines for their profit. The lagos governors would BORROW at unreasonable interest rates and finance these contracts which MUST be given to the companies(probably owned by the LENDER) dictated by the LENDERS at an overinflated price and the same LENDERS would dictate AUSTERITY MEASURES that must be put in place as a condition for borrowing(increasing tax,tuition fees,mass layoffs etc) . It should be clear by now that judging from the kind of projects that those money was used for,the cost which was ridiculous and the net income of the state the LENDER never intended for the money to be paid so what comes next is more AUSTERITY MEASURES and CONDITIONS , one of them being that those same infrastructures(take for example eko housing estate) must be privatised which means selling it away at giveaway price to those SAME LENDERS. What happened here ? They BORROWED them money to build, the money goes back to thier purse because the project was awarded to them, the state still OWES them, the bought the infrastructure at less than 10% the real value and now run it and take all the income it brings, the state still OWES them, the state pays huge amounts just to service their loans while it has lost most of the infrastructure that could have generated income . The State still OWES them.
The LENDERS bought those infrastructures for zero dollars and the state STILL OWES THEM. More and More privatisations and the state STILL OWES THEM. More increase in tax and fees and the state STILL OWES THEM. Things would become harder, many people would suffer,die,loose their homes, jobs,loved ones, even their sanity but the State STILL OWES THEM. THE WHOLE STATE IS BOUGHT AND THE STATE STILL OWES THEM.
If Nigerians don't act now they would never have the opportunity again. Who owes somebody owes him and in all courts both international and within you either pay what you owe or subject to the Lender.

thoth:
i cannot grasp your "core " points so i only have to say that if the Lagos Goverment and other goverments carry out true mass development policies the hawkers,slums,okada riders and others will take care of themselves. At this moment i refuse to see how your so called goverment is taking care of those group mentioned above.

thoth:
I will be around when the seeds sowed today start bearing fruits tomorrow. Whether he is a good or an evil man is left for Lagosians to say.

Paentera:

One thing - the loans for LASG are development loans payable over a thirty (30) year period and at a rate of 1%. If he didn't do that borrowing today to uplift the infrastructure of the state, one day you'll turn around to blame him for not taking the opportunity when it was available. Stop being alarmist with half told stories.

Symphony007: I have said it and will continue! You can't build a mega city of lagos on the back of the poor. Fashola is doing great making lagos beautifull. Roads,bridges,flowers,etc. But where is the humanitarian development? Rivers state might not be perfect infastructurally but it educational system is the best in nigeria. Every thing ranging from uniforms,bags,sandals, and even lunch is free. Parents who don't send their kids to school are presecuted. Their is a range of schemes supporting small buisness and the largest overseas scholarship scheme in nigeria. If fashola really wants to crown his achievements in lagos he should help the poor rather than trying to push them to the obsurity of his beautifull mega city cause frankly they're going no where.

Symphony007: I have said it and will continue! You can't build a mega city of lagos on the back of the poor. Fashola is doing great making lagos beautifull. Roads,bridges,flowers,etc. But where is the humanitarian development? Rivers state might not be perfect infastructurally but it educational system is the best in nigeria. Every thing ranging from uniforms,bags,sandals, and even lunch is free. Parents who don't send their kids to school are presecuted. Their is a range of schemes supporting small buisness and the largest overseas scholarship scheme in nigeria. If fashola really wants to crown his achievements in lagos he should help the poor rather than trying to push them to the obsurity of his beautifull mega city cause frankly they're going no where.

Sibrah: Talking about Government providing houses, i don't exactly agree with that idea, what i expect the Lagos state government to do is provide low interest, long term Loans targeted at estate developers. This should reduce the cost burden developers usually try to offload to their clients within short periods and make housing lucrative for developer and affordable to clients as well.

senbonzakura_kageyoshi:

At the risk of sounding elitist, i'll say let the poor move to rivers state in that case. Funny thing is, most of you guys complaining are not from Lagos state. If other state governors are doing their jobs so well, why are people still trooping into Lagos state? You guys fail to state the FG's responsibility, or the responsibilities of the state governments of over half the people that reside in Lagos state, but when it comes to bashing the LSG, you become champions. Other state governments borrow money....and we can't see even flowers and gardens to show for it! Look, not all states have to do things the same way...the Lagos state governemnt has decided which way it wants the state to follow....anyone that says they can't see what the LSG is doing, either the worst lier in history or incredibly sense.

luvinhubby: When we borrow to build we mortgage the furure of our children, when we sell public utilities to foreign, private firms, we reduce the value of our people, MEGA CITIES ARE BUILT BY MEGA PEOPLE, not capitalist institutions that are out to maximise profits at whatever cost.
What Fashola shud do first as a step to build a mega city is introduce empowerment schemes & welfare packages, soft-loans, micro-credit schemes, low interest revolving loans among established coperatives and unions etc. This way you build a people that can be taxed to build the mega city.

emiye:

You people always come up with "earning minimum wage " examples all the time,
Why should you be earning minimum wage and have 17 years + children due for university ? Did you start working when the child was due for uni. education? Cut me some slack over all this simplistic bulllshitt.

While expecting the Government to do its own bit, it is important you do yours. You have limited control on the Government as an individual(elections every 4 years), but a greater control in shaping your family outlook.

With the current GDP per capita of the country, a budget of 5 trillion Naira for 170 million Nigerians, 500 billion naira for 18million Lagosians you will need to prove that socialism is the way out.

Our Politicians are greedy and selfish, but make no mistake the poor man on the street is likewise greedy and selfish. He only complains ,because he is not tall enough for his hand to reach the national cake.

Family planning for me is not limited to child spacing or bearing, it is an all encompassing tool that includes (number of children, savings/investment, housing, wards education) for the family.

I have seen many supposedly low income earners who has realised that times are hard and learnt to cut their coat according to their cloth,focused on priorities and in a matter of years turn around their fortunes.

Yes University education is not a guarantee of success, but it gives you a greater chance of competing and succeeding.

luvinhubby: I've always asked why the fees for the only university owned by Lagos state govt was jerked from N25,000 to N250,000 & nobody has explained it till now.

cap28: very interesting article about the much praised Fashola, his plans for lagos and their implications for the poor of lagos who make up almost 70% of the population of lagos:


YOU ARE A FOOL. SO LAGOS SHOULD REMAIN DEBT FREE AND BACKWARD?



http://www.workersalternative.com/national-issues/156-ra

emiye:


Improved infrastructure ! , Lots of construction going on in that school as i speak (Central Library, Senate House, Lecture Theathres , Sport centre, Zoological Garden e.t.c I will get pictures if chanced.

I also realise the increase affected the fresh intakes only (JAMBITES) Those in year 2 and above are not affected (do your research)

There is a clause for a Jambites who pays that much, Make 4.0 / 5.0 for the session and earn your tuition fee back + extras.

I agree the amount is on the high side, but sometimes trade off is the name of the game.

thoth:
My own very sister was once a Vice chancellor of a University in the Eastern part of Nigeria, let me tell you that just the tuition fees of the students for one year is twice enough to build those facilities. Just that they are termed as "Projects" does not make it expensive, they are just ordinary houses which people build everyday and equipments and books that is to be filled up in them does not cost that much either. You don't ask for increased tuition fees you ask for greater accountability on the Management. I don't see any reason they will be inflating prices and loot the school then get away with imposing more source of "Loot Money".
Just two things you have to rethink.
How many of these buildings are four storey high.
Do you see the kind of facilities they are building and what value it adds to the education OR how the cost of those facilities can be gotten from the facility itself.

mapet: 1. You're quite right.
2. If government continues to provide houses, it will largely get into the hands of those who can pay for them (these people have one or more houses in the first place.
3. On what basis will a government provide house for someone just because he "found his way to Lagos and is currently hustling" or because "he's poor".
4. I really love your suggestion and I think Fashola government is currently working the procedure of such a long term loan facilities. I think it can be taken further to a level where government identify some proven developers, jointly secures loan facilities for these developers to build massive low cost flats/estates. These can then be allocated to registerd Lagosians, who are tax paying and track record to have worked and lived in Lagos for a number of years....... even with this done, tell me how the supposedly "the poor" as painted in the article will qualify