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How Lagos Is Dying by kettykin: 2:48am On Oct 05, 2019 |
By Ugoji Egbujo Lagos is breaking. It’s being crushed by the weight of a silent mass influx of the young , hungry and jobless. The country has few cities. Many of them are troubled. Lagos has a mythical reputation. They say it’s the city where magic can happen. Abuja is too organized. Lagos is where the transition from oblivion to heaven isn’t just only possible but can happen in a jiffy. But that’s not all. Lagos is perhaps the place where there is no shame. People are therefore getting fed up and leaving their ponds for the big river. And a welcoming Lagos is taking them in without any plan about how to mother them. In Lagos you can worship whatever you choose and anyhow. Population of commercial church entrepreneurs is one of the fastest growing communities. They are everywhere. They go by all sorts of names. Lagos is their fertile ground. Lagos is home of poverty and misery but Lagos is a fountain of optimism. All kinds of pastors are pouring in from all corners of the country. They say Lagos pastors are blessed. MAIGUARDS There are the ‘maiguards’ . At the gates , in small kiosks, selling groceries and manning gates are the legion from Niger Republic. They are quick to tell you they are not Hausa. That’s their way of saying they are trustworthy- that they are not the average Nigeria. You employ one, two weeks after he has five brothers assisting him. Once in a while immigration officers will come like hawks and swoop. It’s a shakedown. They will settle the officials and return to their duties. Two years after, the man you employed would travel home. He would say he would be back in two weeks. He would point to one of his brothers who would act in his absence. He may come back in three years. Or he may never come back. His brother would take over the gate and the shop. The other man has gone to find a child or children in his wife or wives in Niger. When he gets home he would tell his story of Lagos , and his cousins will pack their bags and sit amongst bags of beans and come down at Alaba rago in Lagos. OKADA MENACE There are the Okada men – commercial motorcyclists. They constitute the fastest growing population in Lagos. They are remarkable for nuisance. Abuja, Kano ,Kaduna, Port harcourt, Owerri have all prohibited commercial motorcyclists operating with regular motorcycles . Lagos once tried to stop them, destroyed thousands of motorcycles and then relaxed. As more towns prohibit Okadas and chase away Okada men, they run to Lagos. Lagos swells with them. And swells with their utter disregard for decorum and laws. There is something about the Okada men in Lagos, some defiance, that suggests they will sit in Lagos even when the prohibition comes. Okada riding in Lagos has no regard for traffic lights and rules. It has no regard for flowers and kerbs. It has no regards for civility. An okada man hits a car. Okadamen congregate around the car to intimidate and beat up its occupants. The Okada menace has reduced the quality of life in many parts of Lagos. But a Lagos that is riddled with bad roads , pot holes and traffic snarls cannot live without Okadas now. Regulated Uber type Okada operation is coming. But what will Lagos do with a million jobless ex Okada riders? Most of the O Okadamen in Lagos are homeless . They live on the streets. But they are not alone. It’s a complex social situation. TRUCKS There are the trucks and their drivers. Lagos is now suffocating, filled with trucks . The nation has other ports but they are lifeless. Cargoes come through Lagos. Lagos lacks the capacity to handle growing sea traffic. Trucks spend weeks sitting and crawling on streets and highways to reach the ports. Truck drivers and motor boys now live in the trucks on the streets. The roads are now their toilets and their refuse bins. With so many people living on the streets, Lagos is the home of open defecation. Lagos is dying There are the street traders. Lagos has tried to check street trading. But it has become a social culture. A traffic jam builds. In 10 minutes, the roads are jammed by young men and women selling all sorts. The sheer scale of the market that develops in minutes tells of the growing size of the jobless population. And because everybody is streaming into Lagos and because traffic jams abound in Lagos, more flock to Lagos to join in the trading done without the need to rent a shop. Lagos is dying There are the street traders. Lagos has tried to check street trading. But it has become a social culture. A traffic jam builds. In 10 minutes, the roads are jammed by young men and women selling all sorts. The sheer scale of the market that develops in minutes tells of the growing size of the jobless population. And because everybody is streaming into Lagos and because traffic jams abound in Lagos, more flock to Lagos to join in the trading done without the need to rent a shop. Then there is legion of middlemen, commission agents, hustlers , ‘touts’. They are called agberos in motor parks. They have become part of the Lagos culture. You can pass by the ports. They occupy spaces left by a system that thrives on corruption. They are there at NAHCO. Young and old milling around , offering to smoothen things made rough and slow by deliberate indolence and tardiness of obsolete systems and corrupt officials. They are there at the immigration and motor licensing offices. They are everywhere. They can be at the wharf today and at an NNPC depot tomorrow. Then somewhere in the lands ministry at Alausa the next week. House Boys and House Girls Then there are the house girls and house boys. The trade operates on the borderline of human trafficking. Lagos is busy. Parents work far from home. And the distance is made more complicated by endemic devilish traffic snarls. The homes need house girls. The south south and south east were the preferred sources. But the republic of Benin has joined the competition. A growing population of mainly young girls sent to Lagos through agents to run homes for busy parents for a small salary which they may share with the agents. Lagos is swelling. Lagos needs a raft of new regulations. And a determination to enforce existing rules. Lagos must plan new transportation, housing and refuse disposal systems. Water UBERS must come now. But Lagos must find benign means of getting everybody into its tax net. That’s the only way to make other states sit up. That’s the only way to cope with the influx. The man who blows the flute must also enjoy the opportunity to blow his nose. May Lagos not burst. Read more at: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/10/how-lagos-is-dying/ 85 Likes 9 Shares |
Re: How Lagos Is Dying by kettykin: 2:49am On Oct 05, 2019 |
Lagos is dying slow installmentally daily and no one seems to care Lagos is officially a black hole that sucks up everything and everyone around it and swallows them up for good 19 Likes 3 Shares |
Re: How Lagos Is Dying by kettykin: 2:50am On Oct 05, 2019 |
If you want to see Lagos dead click like, if you want to see Lagos live click share. I will follow this thread with another thread of who killed Lagos . Some funny people think igbos killed Lagos but the action or inaction of the APC led state government has not only killed but buried lagos. 26 Likes 150 Shares |
Re: How Lagos Is Dying by Jimasun: 2:57am On Oct 05, 2019 |
One better deal with the problems of Lagos than your mischievousness.
You want it to die.
It is not going to... 29 Likes 4 Shares |
Re: How Lagos Is Dying by kettykin: 3:03am On Oct 05, 2019 |
Jimasun: how do i want lagos dead 7 Likes |
Re: How Lagos Is Dying by MetaPhysical: 4:42am On Oct 05, 2019 |
Then there are the house girls and house boys. The trade operates on the borderline of human trafficking. Lagos is busy. Parents work far from home. And the distance is made more complicated by endemic devilish traffic snarls. The homes need house girls. The south south and south east were the preferred sources. But the republic of Benin has joined the competition. Why would i hire SE as house-anything? When i no craze! You go work come back your children don dissapear and money don exchange hand. Next thing you see chinekwe don buy range rover. Igbo ga gbue Nwafor!! Chineke gozie gi!! Chai. 65 Likes 1 Share |
Re: How Lagos Is Dying by sleek214(m): 5:59am On Oct 05, 2019 |
I'd attend its burial 4 Likes 2 Shares |
Re: How Lagos Is Dying by iCauseTrouble: 6:00am On Oct 05, 2019 |
Please, invite we in Abuja for the burial ceremony 2 Likes |
Re: How Lagos Is Dying by Binikingdowm: 6:00am On Oct 05, 2019 |
Yoruba don't care as long as tinubu share garri to them and owanbe is there 50 Likes 4 Shares |
Re: How Lagos Is Dying by morikee: 6:01am On Oct 05, 2019 |
Na you kill am |
Re: How Lagos Is Dying by ODVanguard: 6:02am On Oct 05, 2019 |
Lagos needs serious decongesting. The state can barely handle any more influx of economic migrants. Other states should do more to keep their folks from moving to Lagos en masse. 47 Likes 1 Share
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Re: How Lagos Is Dying by okosodo: 6:04am On Oct 05, 2019 |
Provided Tinubus boys a dominating no problems 4 Likes |
Re: How Lagos Is Dying by NLbully(m): 6:05am On Oct 05, 2019 |
kettykin: Sense is far from you 14 Likes 1 Share |
Re: How Lagos Is Dying by Charleys: 6:06am On Oct 05, 2019 |
Oba Lil Wayne is not gonna like this. |
Re: How Lagos Is Dying by Nobody: 6:07am On Oct 05, 2019 |
The so called educated and sophisticated tribe,the ones who should know better,will tell you that Lagos is the best it's ever been. It still puzzles me how a settlement(I don't call it a city yet)like Lagos can be subjected to the whims of a few individuals.Now we have touts and thugs making decision s for professors and professionals. Meanwhile their shortsight and stupid greed will not allow them to see that this bus has failed brake and is heading to the cliff. Lagos is not dying bro. Lagos is dead.This is just active decay going on. The good news though is that resurrection is still possible.Dry bones can still rise again. 21 Likes 1 Share |
Re: How Lagos Is Dying by Xavi2019: 6:07am On Oct 05, 2019 |
Nice piece. Failed to mention which Lagos you are referring to though, to my understanding there are two 'lagoses' inside that Lagos.... One for the rich, and one for the poor. 26 Likes 1 Share |
Re: How Lagos Is Dying by yudeecollections: 6:07am On Oct 05, 2019 |
Hm. |
Re: How Lagos Is Dying by Nobody: 6:09am On Oct 05, 2019 |
ODVanguard:Until other ports are up and running,people will keep coming.Its just common sense. Basic economic dynamic. 34 Likes 2 Shares |
Re: How Lagos Is Dying by Nobody: 6:10am On Oct 05, 2019 |
Xavi2019:The two are slowly merging everyday.Soon they will clash but I pray it doesn't come with blood. 8 Likes |
Re: How Lagos Is Dying by Nobody: 6:15am On Oct 05, 2019 |
MetaPhysical:You are typing gibberish.I didnt know it's possible to TYPE gibberish. Both your English and Igbo(?)sucks. You need to go out more.Air out your head.Make new and better friends so that your mind can open.This supposed line of thought will keep you poorer and poorer.Being a tribalist will keep you miserable and frustrated because you will see the ones you hate flying high. 29 Likes |
Re: How Lagos Is Dying by Nobody: 6:20am On Oct 05, 2019 |
kettykin:My pessimism stems from the present crop of people in charge of Lagos affairs. Things will get worse. Its pathetic we have the kind of leaders we do..and even sadder that we are the kind of followers we are. Because I don't understand why the SS and SE governors and senators or whatever they call themselves cannot push for more activities in the ports over there. What Lagos needs,apart from top notch governance,is a gradual decongestion.Way too many people in that tiny space. 3 Likes |
Re: How Lagos Is Dying by ILOVEPUSY(m): 6:21am On Oct 05, 2019 |
If lagos is dying ask does ppl 1 Like 1 Share
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Re: How Lagos Is Dying by Nobody: 6:21am On Oct 05, 2019 |
Here to read comments |
Re: How Lagos Is Dying by omenka(m): 6:22am On Oct 05, 2019 |
Awesome read. Lagos, arise!! 2 Likes 1 Share |
Re: How Lagos Is Dying by AdoIfHitlerr(f): 6:23am On Oct 05, 2019 |
omenka:good morning love |
Re: How Lagos Is Dying by omenka(m): 6:24am On Oct 05, 2019 |
Wish folks would READ the article before commenting. Sure some people would flock in here thinking another tribal war is in the offing, but this piece calls for some real reflection about the state of affairs in the country. Lagos seems to be the only hope of the hopeless and it is getting overwhelmed! 21 Likes 3 Shares |
Re: How Lagos Is Dying by sogodihno: 6:25am On Oct 05, 2019 |
The city is too populated, and their is no space, a tiny space that shouldn't cost anything in other States will cost arms and legs in Lagos, if u say u can't take it, another person is ready to pay more and get that space in ur eyes. U wil literarily be bumping into each other when crossing the overhead bridge, to get bus for transport is wahala, because of too much people. Lagos is overpopulated and overcrowded, the infrastructures are overwhelmed already, the state government has to do something to limit influx of people to the state, if this influx continue unabated, the state will explode in few years time. SE and SS governors should do things to keep their people in their States, some of them are constituting nuisance here. Eko o ni baje o. Modified: Yoruba has a proverb, "nkan ti aye ba so e da, na ni aye fi ma bu e" 90% of those catisgating Lagos here are those economic refugees from the yeast that drag Lagos to this stage, since they won't sit their ass down in their backward region. SMH! 20 Likes 2 Shares |
Re: How Lagos Is Dying by babajero(m): 6:26am On Oct 05, 2019 |
kettykin:Oga for your information Lagos is not the one dying, Nigeria is the one dying and lagos being a part of it, it's affecting it and other places too. The rulers are just killing it but don't care. 11 Likes 2 Shares |
Re: How Lagos Is Dying by Nobody: 6:28am On Oct 05, 2019 |
TheWrita: Your post is really awesome o. I love your wordplay and grammatical structure. About the Lagos matter, Lagos is like the New York of USA. Lagos has a very booming economy, and it's still the best economy for most businesses. The problems of Lagos is too multifaceted . I stay in Ikorodu, the "posh, boti" part. I thought all of Ikorodu was like my area. I couldn't be more wrong. There are slums in Ikorodu, where people swim out of their houses. No flipping roads. I feel that any LG Chairman caught embezzling should be thrown straight to jail without delay. The reason Lagos is so congested is because the other states haven't developed their system in a way that aids businesses and good living. The cost of living in many states is quite low, but the standard of living is also low. Btw, there are different "Lagoses" in one Lagos. If you know, you know. 13 Likes |
Re: How Lagos Is Dying by Nobody: 6:28am On Oct 05, 2019 |
So true... And there is still the problem of waste disposal and NURTW and RTEAN touts everywhere... It's just sad that those in Alausa do not really do their jobs. 1 Like |
Re: How Lagos Is Dying by Born2Breed(f): 6:30am On Oct 05, 2019 |
Lagos is an irony,there is the dying and the living Lagos. One can sleep and wake in the dying, and live the the whole day in the living. Lagos chokes to death and give birth to life. Lagos will never die. 7 Likes |
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