Open Letter to Governor Babatunde Fashola: Save Lekki Now!

Your Excellency,
 

May I start by saying that I have chosen to address you through this medium because I am convinced that my communication stands a better chance of reaching you via NVS than a letter sent to the maze that is Alausa. But that is a subject for another day.

Sir, I am reliably informed that you are a Governor who feels the pulse of the people and reacts accordingly. I write to you as an observer who has become increasingly concerned in recent months about the hardship the populace has to undergo on a daily basis in order to circulate in and around the Lekki axis.  In short, life in Lekki has become unbearable.

Commencing from the diabolical experience of commuters from one end of the Lekki-Epe Expressway to another; a journey which should take 30 minutes can easily extend up to three hours. It is a gruesome trial of wits and nerves, which must surely be taking an inestimable toll on human lives in terms of road traffic accidents, resultant stress, high blood pressure and negative impact on economic activity, not to talk of the damage done to our reputation as a region which seeks to attract both local and foreign investment. 

There are countless hazards along this major thoroughfare: from the Ajah (Alesh) end where danfos are seemingly permitted to stop or make u-turns at random, thereby reducing the Epe bound carriageway to one lane, to the Total roundabout where cars turn right directly off the roundabout into a road with a barrier manned by a security guard (is this really a suitable location for the access point onto a private estate?), thereby causing huge tailbacks. The situation is compounded by the antics of some drivers who seek to jump the queue by creating another lane on the left, thereby impeding free flow of traffic through the roundabout. The hardworking police and LASTMA officials valiantly try to restore sanity to this area as well as other trouble spots, but it seems they are fighting a losing battle against the sheer weight of traffic, not to talk of ignorant, dangerous and selfish drivers who can daily be seen driving against traffic, speeding along pavements and other such evils.

Further down towards town, the Oniru junction provides an insight into the indignities suffered by users of public transport. A huge crowd awaits each approaching danfo, and the resultant scrum to gain access becomes a free for all that only the fittest or most ruthless can win. And having personally had occasion to experience a trip along the Expressway by okada, I can confidently declare it to be a hair-raising and even suicidal endeavour.   

For those who are able to drive along the Expressway, which should represent the finest of Nigerian road building technology, on a par with the likes of the magnificent US freeways, the efficient UK motorways or the superb German autobahns, they are repeatedly confronted with decay and incompetence. The streetlights either do not exist, or are mere decorative objects, leaving drivers blinded by oncoming full headlights at night. There is an excessive number of petrol stations along this stretch of road, yet none of them provides a breakdown or emergency service. In parts, the road is reduced to one lane by encroachment of sand on to the tarmac. Crossing from one carriageway to another at places like VGC/ Ikota is a tricky game of chance – there is no guarantee your car will make it through the deep sand in the central reservation. The exit point is not sign posted; indeed there are no official signposts of any description along the Expressway apart from a few commercial directional signs or the odd banner informing you that “Chief so-and-so’s party is this way”.

One wonders if any systematic project management has been observed in the development of the zone. The fast-growing peninsula is served by just one entry and exit point, leading to massive congestion at Lekki Phase 1 roundabout. Routes which could have provided some relief, such as the road bypassing Goshen Beach Estate to emerge at Oniru Estate, have become the resort of only drivers of SUVs or the foolhardy, because they have inexplicably been left partially completed. (It is a regular occurrence to find vehicles being dug out of the deep sand by enterprising young men who stand by with shovels for that very purpose.) Meanwhile, road works to repair potholes at key locations on the Expressway itself appear to be haphazard and provide only temporary relief before reappearing, often wider and deeper than before.

A number of random questions spring to this writer’s mind when contemplating the madness that is present-day Lekki:

1.      How many more estates will be built without the required infrastructure to cater for the exploding population?

2.      Should an okada driver on an Expressway transport a) up to 4 passengers at once b) a goat c) a large television set d) a new born baby wrapped in blankets in its mother’s arms, without any fear of being immediately challenged by police?

3.      Can any civilised city continue to permit grossly deformed people (including a very young child whose private parts were put on display) to be paraded on public highways in the name of begging for alms?

One laudable answer to the problems we are facing is the construction of the Ozumba Mbadiwe stretch at the Victoria Island end of the road, which when completed will promote the free flow of traffic from the Expressway towards  the rest of Lagos, as well as in the other direction. Regrettably, the works which were due to be completed by the end of 2007 are still ongoing. As far as I am aware, no public statement on the reasons for the delay have been made to-date to the long-suffering public.

Sir, I recognise that these problems of public transportation, traffic management and infrastructure were inherited from previous Governments. Nor are they unique to Lekki and they have to be seen and addressed in the wider context of Lagos State. Furthermore I do not suggest that Lekki should be given special treatment at the expense of less affluent neighbourhoods. However, I would argue that Lekki is the jewel in the crown of the Lagos Mega City project, which is so dear to your heart. Just as in the early days of FCT Abuja, we have an opportunity to position Lekki as a world-class region which will attract economy-enhancing projects to Lagos in the near future. The countdown to the Lekki Free Trade Zone has already begun. None of these can succeed in the current climate of traffic mayhem and mindless mismanagement along this vital channel.

For Lagos to truly be the “Centre of Excellence” as declared on all the licence plates attached to powerful vehicles crawling along at a snail’s pace in Lekki - an area with some of the most expensive real estate in Africa, we must act quickly to find a permanent solution to these problems. I am told that you are a determined and resourceful man. It is my hope that your government will successfully tackle  this monumental challenge before you, among so many others in Lagos State.

Yours sincerely,

Ronke Macaulay

Robot  Villager

# 1 ...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 30.01.2008 15:53

Chidi Anyaeche  Villager

# 2 So what did Bola Tinubu achieve in his eight years of governing Lagos state? These politicians need to be exterminated, period. Posted by Chidi Anyaeche| 30.01.2008 16:43

dele26  Villager

# 3 I was in Nigeria last year November what I saw almost brought tears to my eyes. My friend who leaves in Aja and works in Marine Beach, Apapa wakes up at 04:30am everyday to beat the usual heavy traffic in order to get to work before 09:00am. Posted by dele26| 30.01.2008 17:01

spaco  Villager

# 4 fashola is a man of people, he will surely respond to this letter. Out of 36 governors in nigeria he is only one with bright future. Posted by spaco| 31.01.2008 01:15

Adeola Aderounmu  Villager

# 5 =Chidi Anyaeche;4294984958>So what did Bola Tinubu achieve in his eight years of governing Lagos state? These politicians need to be exterminated, period. Wait till somebody in this village wakes up to give you a framed/laminated answer regarding the achievements of Tinubu. We all know that even the so-called devil has an advocate. Anyway, anything Lagos always entice me. It's the only place I know in my Nigerian life! Thank you Ronke for this piece but please can you also write to all those USELESS Lagos church leaders to stop giving Tinubu more and more awards. We are tired of their award-for-money sickling attitudes. They ripped the people when Tinubu was in office and they are still siphoning part of the money carted away. Lagos and Nigeria get serious problems especially when we didn't vote for the people we are looking up to. Fasola is obviously more indebted to Tinubu and the other political gladiators than 12 million Lagosians. Posted by Adeola Aderounmu| 31.01.2008 01:21

RAYNOSA  Villager

# 6 Dear Ronke, Thanks for this letter.One thing is,these people once they get into office do they find time to go through correspondence that has no immidiate monetary benefits attached to it. Any i am very sure Fashola and his crew are not blind they travel all over the world and they ought to know what is right. The problem is that they are not interested in any development in any form as this will further reduce the money they want to keep in there private accounts. To me the whole of Lagos needs saving.The problem with lagos is that past goverment have failed to improve and engaged in major developmental project this have brought a strain on few existing amenities/facilities. Take trip round Lagos from the mainland to island,Badagry to Apapa no improvement yet all we read/hear is Billions have been spent to improve roads,housing and tranports. ATTN:GOVERNOR FASHOLA Someone gave us SURU-LERE,FESTAC,LOW COST HOUSING,IKEJA BUSSINES DISTRICTS. Please sir in your tenure what do hope to be known for, or do you wish to be remember as another governor looking through his glasses. My suggestion is that seriously engage developmental plans(private & commercial) in the following areas EPE,IKORODU,BADAGRY,IFAKO IJAIYE,and other parts. Sir you must agree with me that the existing facilities in lagos are been over streached,and proper and good road network would open up these area. If in doubt you can borrow the London plan,were all part of london is zoned from zone 1 to 6 and all linked with good transport system. Thanks Posted by RAYNOSA| 31.01.2008 08:50

Exxcuzme  Villager

# 7 It is a shame our leaders are vision less. Lekki could be another Pacific Highway in California where all you see is the beautiful beaches and nice houses. If you ever travel to California, rent a convertible car and drive through the Pacific Highway Coast of Southern California in Los Angeles and you will see the beauty of nature with humans complementing it. Lekki can be built in similar fashion instead of unplanned multimillion houses and ramshackle shops littering Lekki all the way. The Lekki road is too narrow for traffic coupled with the Danfos dilleman I will also cherish the day Nigerians can enjoy the Beaches without having to be assaulted and milked by touts. The Lagos State government can find out how to generate revenue by having a master plan for its Coast, you can go Southern California to find out how it is done. Posted by Exxcuzme| 31.01.2008 09:09

Ani  Villager

# 8 Ronke, You painted a picture of the lekki-epe expressway exactly the way it is. It is frustrating at the moment going to work and back these days, i end up arriving the office late everyday because i refuse to leave my house at 5am in the morning just to make sure i get to work early. The lekki Concession company who are taking pride in rehabilitating the ozumba mbadiwe road at snail speed have made matters worse, i shudder at the thought that when they are through (God knows when) with the ozumba mbadiwe road, they'd move to the lekki-epe expressway to continue with the snail speed rehabilitation. maybe i ought to get an SUV too....how i envy those guys in the mornings! Posted by Ani| 01.02.2008 06:18

WaleAkin  Villager

# 9 =Adeola Aderounmu;4294985066>Lagos and Nigeria get serious problems especially when we didn't vote for the people we are looking up to. Fasola is obviously more indebted to Tinubu and the other political gladiators than 12 million Lagosians. GBAM! GBAM!! GBAM!!! Lets forget this surface governing power being exhibited by Fashola, na Tinubu still dey rule Lagos. Posted by WaleAkin| 01.02.2008 09:46

ronkemac  Villager

# 10 All, thanks for sharing. @Dele26, your friend represents all those whose lives are being made impossible by the current situation in Lekki and other parts of Lagos. @ Spaco, I don't expect Fashola to respond. All I ask is that he reads, digests, and acts. @ Adeola, meaningless award-giving has reached epidemic proportions in Nigeria. The mutual back-slapping and brown-nosing is truly nauseating. @ Chidi and Raynosa, Lagos is a huge challenge for any Governor. The question is whether sheer willpower is enough to overturn vested interests. @ Exxcuzme, Lagos beaches should be oases of calm in the madness. Instead they are fast becoming no-go areas. @Ani, abeg go buy dat jeep o jare. U no hear say finance deal dey well well? @Wale Akin, many people thought UMYA was an OBJ stooge. Surprise! Posted by ronkemac| 02.02.2008 16:12

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