atasteve:

Brf address these issues under our bridges. Please you need to sustain what you strated

tpia@:

Until i read it from authentic news sources. . . . . . .

I think it would be quite foolish of me to believe everything i read on nl given the high number of scammers operating freely here.

I googled "fire on third mainland bridge" yesterday and saw a video dated 2010.

So, the whole thing remains fishy until confirmed through the proper channels.

Seems like 2012 is going to be a wierd year, with all out assaults on people's common sense and mind games will be the order of the day.

Artists document Oko Baba as Lagos goes mega
Tuesday, March 18, 2008 - The Guardian
WHENEVER posterity finds its past missing in the archive, historians are usually held responsible.

To enrich the archive for tomorrow's sake, a research team of artists, have come up with an initiative in support of the ongoing urban renewal project of the Lagos State government.

Unavoidably, redevelopment in most urban cities across the world comes with loss of some identities while new ones are ushered in. Also, whenever the proposed mega city project of the government in power comes to fruition, the history of Lagos has to be re-written, as more structures would have to give way to this urban renewal.

Such loss of physical identities as experienced in the past with the shanty settlements of Maroko, Victoria Island and Ilubinrin, Ikoyi, both in Lagos were most likely not properly documented before the bulldozers rolled over them. It will be recalled that Maroko was leveled under the administration of the then military Governor of Lagos State, Colonel Raji Rasaki. In place of the demolished structures is a choice estate.

To avoid such loss of history, the artists, 27 in number, took off with what is expected to be a series under the theme, Documenting Eko. The first of the series, Documenting Eko-1, Oko Baba, a group art exhibition of works of the artists from their research on extinction-bound timber land, Oko Baba, in Ebute Metta is scheduled to open at the Terra Kulture, Victoria Island, on Sunday, March 23 through 30, 2008. The works, during a preview revealed that the show is an opportunity for people to see the other side of habitation that is so uniquely cut off from the urban structure, yet a major feeder to the constructions of high rise buildings on the islands and the city in general.

Among the exhibiting artists are Rukeme Noserime, Kolade Oshinowo, Raqib Bashoroun, Emma Idiong, Adeola Balogun, Grace Soyinka, Odun Orimolade, Kema Mordi, Shade Thompson Aladegbongbe Aderinsonye, Toni Ogunde, Sheba Onabanjo and Mary Onote Kasim.

Oko Baba, a sub settlement of Lagos Mainland local government council is a very well known timber industrial area that takes a chunk of the coastline stretching close to Iddo, near Lagos Island. Having existed for over 50 years without recognition by successive government of the state, the Lagos State government under the immediate past governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu started the negotiation to relocate the 'industrial estate' to a new site in Agbowa, Badagry local government council. Set to execute the outcome of that negotiation is the new administration of Lagos State under Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola.

It would amount to a disservice to posterity if the bulldozers roll over the place without proper documentation in the art gallery, the artists explained. The show, which is expected to be of benefit to a cross section of professionals, mostly those in the creative business, including architects and others, have a multi purpose value for technocrats and policy makers in the business of urban development. The coordinator of the exhibition, Rukeme Noserime, during the preview at Terra Kulture, the exhibition is to compliment the project of the state government in relocating the people.

In their diverse medium such as oil, wood, ceramic photography and textile, various activities inside the timber land from which multi purpose use of wood are derived make the artists' expressions. From Oshinowo's representational piece, Man Alone, oil and acrylic on canvas, Bashorun's Shield, wood; to the clay and rubber works of Kema Mordi, Thompson's dress work Couture Kaftan and Jewellery, Orimolade's mixed media, What If, and Soyinka's ceramic works, posterity has a thumb up for these historians.

Bashorun's Shield, a semblance of Victorian art piece may not be able to stop the bulldozers from rolling over the timber land very soon, but this work is a tribute to the natural colours of wood. Between seven to10 the artist used colours of such gift of nature to mankind as each colour further offer different shades to demonstrate that nature couldn't have been so kind to man.

Oshinowo's brush strokes must have come at the right time to save another loss of history in what looked like a mountain of wood off-cuts, waiting for another round of recycling. Even as a heap, those natural colours of woods could not escape that bold stroke Oshinowo is known for.

In addition to the artists' social responsibility, this project also meant a lot to the creative sector, given the significant place of wood in the art gallery.

This much, the curator of the show, Balogun explained noting that artists, framers and every other persons who have something to do with art gallery should show concern for the future of the timber people.

For Orimolade, her mixed media, What If, , suggested a disastrous occurrence in case of a fire outbreak. "What if there is a fire. Just as in other communities that cooking is done; machines are in use, electricity and so forth. The recent news of fire then gives credence to these fears and brings up the need to evaluate the possible effects of an outburst of fire in such an environment."

Fears like this and others that may inhibit adequate development of the people in their new location are part of the concerns of the artists. The artists who are teachers from the Yaba College of Technology, Yaba, Lagos State did not stop at using the gallery as a major outlet to justify the responsibility society expects of them. They have taken upon themselves the role of activists to ensure that the new timberland, Agbowa, meets the required standard.

They had a presentation for the Lagos State government on the future of the timber workers, who, perhaps, have known no other jobs in their lives, but wood.

Factors crucial to this redevelopment, Noserime, Head of Department, Fine Art, Yabatech said are being addressed. The sudden culture shock for a people that have lived and worked in a place for over 50 years could be easily corrected only if the new abode, Agbowa, Badagry, as promised by the state government meets the standard required of modern timber industries, Rukeme warned.

This much, he said is part of the concerns of the research group as presented to the state government: "At Oko Baba, wood does not have a waste product. This is the whole essence of this research documentation. It is also to highlight the effective role of the government in trying to enhance the whole timber market phenomena in respect to current global trends. This is a very laudable and bold attempt by the Lagos State government."

In her ceramic works, Soyinka revisited motherhood from the point of view of Oko Baba and concluded that motherhood remains the same anywhere. "In the city or the village settlement of Oko-Baba, motherhood is a creative challenge. No matter where a mother is located, household hi-tech gadgets are not what make a good mother. Basic household equipment and strength of character is what make good mothering strength to identify what is good and right; strength to encourage, strength of today for tomorrow. Strength to keep on when others long to quit motherhood calls for strength."

The team's presentation to government, Noserime added included findings on the health implication for the timber workers as a result of constant exposure to woods, a Lagos State owned cyber caf� among others.

Fhemmmy:

Sad to read this . . .  But hope this will trigger the people to stop the govt from spending all their money and nothing to show for it

tpia@:

it has to be reported by valid newspapers, thank you!!!

the op or a concerned citizen should send them the photos and tell them where to go.

Eko Ile:


This sounds very off base and simplistic. Are you suggesting that the state should build freeking house for every poor folks in lagos or to go to the border and start handing keys to free houses to poor folks from every corner of nigeria as they cross into lagos?

Fhemmmy:

Not to build homes for people, however, i am sure the govt could have stopped this by not allowing people to build and reside under the bridge.

tpia@:

it has to be reported by valid newspapers, thank you!!!

the op or a concerned citizen should send them the photos and tell them where to go.

tpia@:

it has to be reported by valid newspapers, thank you!!!

the op or a concerned citizen should send them the photos and tell them where to go.

Eko Ile:

Obviously, you were insinuating something different. Anyways, im all for the government enforcing it's laws, but short of deporting millions of these shanty settlement dwellers or just let them move to other parts of lagosian state and course same or more problems.

What'sneeded is a root course solution from the federal to state level. Even with this fire situation, thousands of other potential slum dwellers are crossing into lagos to join in or create their own settlements


 All these  simplistic one liners don't mean nothing.