HELL CHASERS OR LIFE-SAVERS?

There was no ambiguity in the reason for the establishment of Lagos State Transport Management Authority (LASTMA) when the former governor of Lagos state inaugurated the traffic body eight years ago. LASTMA was authorized to manage, control and coordinate the convoluted transportation network in the Lagos metropolis. Eight years after not many are sure if that’s exactly what they are up to. Local television stations are crammed with images of LASTMA officials fleeing for dear lives after being accused by angry mobs for contributing to a number of road accidents. I think the problem with this body lies largely in the educational background of most of its workers; with little or no functional educational background, every tom, dick and harry now wears the cream and wine outfit. But then there have been allegations in the past that most of the body’s members were ex- social miscreants paid off with LASTMA jobs for supporting the state government in elections.

    The truth is the public’s confidence in its LASTMA’s role is at an all time low. A lot has to do with the body’s abysmal public relations performance. Almost everyone has a story tale to tell of the men of LASTMA. It is almost as if the men of the transport body derive some sadistic joy from a traffic offender caught in its traffic traps. Well I have no problem with being flagged down and stopped, but why go to such extremes like breaking a vehicle’s side-mirror or chasing an errant driver like one of hell’s angels

  As an eye witness of today’s gory road accident at the core of Alausa secretariat- the seat of Lagos government, I watched with mixed feelings as an official of the transport body was nearly lynched by a very angry crowd who had watched him chase- to-hell a commercial bus to an avoidable accident-several of the buses’ commuters sustained serious  injuries. He was rescued from the fury of the protesters only by a group of stern military men

Now this isn’t the first time this has happened, many lives have been lost and several others have their damaged limbs suspended from slings at the orthopedic hospital in yaba- a museum for the city’s accident victims. The time to act is now, LASTMA ought to save lives and not exacerbate an already worrisome situation

Gloria, CONNECTAFRICA

SAND IN MY CLOTHES

Lagos state is the economic hub and nerve centre of Nigeria; its moniker is the centre of excellence, it is Nigeria’s dream city all because Lagos appears to possess everything the roving traveler or dweller seeks after. For many it’s a land of plenty; jobs, fun, money, people, and anything else that the mind can conjure up. One striking thing about Lagos however, is that it is situated along the vast Atlantic Ocean.

The ocean does indeed add more colour to the city as it creates a good number of leisure spots. One of these is the suntan beach in Badagry (a part of Lagos that is proximate to the republic of Benin). The size of the white sandy beach is awe-inspiring.  Just watching the great grayish undulating waves build up and tumble down in a gargantuan splash over and over again is always a reviving experience.

Every visit to the suntan beach brings me in close communion to unraveling the mystery of creation. With the sun beating down mildly upon my forehead, I can make out in the horizon the slant of the bluish grey sky meeting the crest of the Atlantic Ocean, purely breathtaking. A typical day at suntan beach is an assortment of revelers; young and old, skilled and unskilled swimmers, white and black, there, everyone soaking in the fun without pride and prejudice.

The swimmers usually won the grudge match; coordinating and managing affairs at sea, diving and doing the medley. Not feeling left out in anyway, upstarts like me looked for sea-shells, conches and built sand-castles near-by. Whatever stance we took, it was okay, the grand lesson was we were all having a ball.

Last time around I decide to get a little more adventurous by getting a few meters to the shoreline, I beat a fast retreat as I tried to outrun a rapidly receding wave-the feeling was absolutely sublime. Aha one thing you’ve got to be prepared for is the fine sand in your clothes, it’s like some souvenir you’d always get; want it or not. But it doesn’t stop most of us, visitors, from just sitting and lying down in the light mousy colored sandy beach listening to languid playing Caribbean songs

Whatever one decides to do on the beach, either sitting, riding horses (there are a few for hire) or swimming (or pretend to swim as the case may be), the suntan beach is one of the places that makes Lagos tick. So, if you ever visit Lagos and want to relax, the suntan beach may just be a good stop-over. Don’t forget to take a dip, but whatever you do, ensure you close your mouth while in the ocean because you don’t want to gulp some of that VERY SALTY water! Have fun guys!   

Fadekemi, CONNECTAFRICA

WHERE IS YOUR MOTHER?

The societal problems are not always the fault of government authorities, take for example; the growing army of child beggars in several of Africa’s major cities. Many of these children aren’t orphans but have been reluctantly drafted into the trade more often than not by lazy, mendacious guardians. Yes the blame is on Parents who tend to ignore the right ways to provide for their children, especially mothers who are not handicapped. It now a common sight to see several mothers seating not far away, watching their toddlers provide the family its daily bread. How shameful and disgusting particularly for an African woman, this I consider as the last abominable act. I hear some ask what about their fathers, that’s a no-issue because many were never there in the first instance

In Nigeria today, the main offenders are the south westerns and northerners, were certain religious and cultural patterns have helped to enforce child-begging. Only last week on the streets of Lagos, as I walked to a function,  a young child, not more than five years, tugged hard at me soliciting for alms. I looked around for her roguish mother and to my consternation she waved at me.  I cast a steely glance in her direction, at the end I refused to part with my hard earned cash.  Lagos is  home for many of these destitute mothers, without a source of livelihood many have continued to  play parent  to the detriment of our society’s social structure, albeit increased campaigns by NGO’s and religious organizations have failed to yield much going by the increasing numbers of destitute mothers and street kids

It’s a dog- eat -dog life on the streets of several African cities where survival is game of wits. Many of these women are exposed to violence, rape, STD’s and AIDS and possible death. The fate of their wards is imagined than experienced; with little or no formal education they are more than willing volunteers to a swelling crime and violence industry

I know a number of people would argue the government has its own fair in the blame game, but isn’t there something fundamentally wrong in system that allows children solicit funds from strangers. So please next time before you pull the notes out of the wallet ask the toddler,’ where is your mother?’

 

Juliet, CONNECTAFRICA