Fuel Scarcity Hits Lagos

Date line Lagos, location fadeyi, date 17/12/2008, time 5.34pm.
Leaving work for home after an eventful day and thinking of the
holiday coming ahead and how to spend it.

Alas i saw the queue at the gas station, i said to myself not again.
The initial thought was that the gas station are hoarding the commodity
due to the impending holiday or the rumor of cut in pump price.

It was not till i got home that the picture became clear. The tanker
drivers are on strike because of "harassment from traffics officials"
to be specifics Lagos state traffic management agency{LASTMA}.

This is not the first time the tanker drivers will embark on such action.
It happened couple of times during the last governor and the present
governor has had his own share of the Lagos state tanker drivers action.

What puzzle one is the selfishness of the tanker drivers, it is obvious
they do this because the important of gas can not be undervalued in our
economy. It is our backbone.

Though i understand the overzealous of the LASTMA officials but the
tanker driver took it too far.

Trust the Lagos "smart boys" by the early hours of this morning the
street urchins popularly known as "AREA BOYS" have taken over. The
major roads like ikorodu was littered by young men mostly without shirt
and a ten litter gallon of fuel hawking it.

One can not imagine the chaos at the few gas stations where the commodity
is available. So many cars waiting to buy fuel and the man hours wasted.

The commuters are worst hit, a friend that came to check on me in office
paid 200% more than the normal fare. Having to pay high transport fare is
one thing, the availability is another challenge.

The good news is that i send this post i just heard in the news that the
strike has been called off. What a relief.

It my wish and of many Lagosians that all the parties involved will reach
a mid point of agreement to avoid such ugly situation again.

Lagos stand still for Arsenal the Giant Killer

Date line was Lagos and to be specific opebi.
I woke up that morning feeling that whatever will be will be {i am an Arsenal fan}, this was mainly because of Arsenal recent form in the the league.

Watching the match in the viewing center near my house is a no no thing for me because of the rival that exist between the two clubs pitched against each other. I do not want to be caught up in the fight that could break out between die hard supporters of Arsenal Chelsea.

So i left for a more predictable viewing center where i sat next to my friend who is by the way a Manchester united fan.

The match went on with Arsenal a goal down courtesy an own goal by Djorou. My friend told me Arsenal will win the match but i didn't agree with him, his prediction came true at the end. Chelsea 1-Arsenal 2.

The joy of Arsenal fans was unlimited it was as if the league has been won. The Dj started blasting the popular stand up for the champion song and the party began.

Even the okada riders were pulling a lot of stunt with their bike, a lot of traffic, you could see young men bare chested because almost all of them pull off their shirt.

The effect of the match spilled to monday morning, i saw couple of people in Arsenal jersey.
How i wish i have one.

Lagos and the American Dream

Going! going!! gone!!!.
The clock is ticking and time is running out, Lagosians are really trying to catch in the opportunity that comes once in a year.

The visit of a man to the cybercafe i was this weekend reminded me of the rush and urgency of people who are interested in the American Visa lottery.
A typical Lagosian attitude, always waiting till the last minutes before we get things done. We are so much used to running.

The buzz about the visa lottery can not be imagined in Lagos. Almost everybody i know wants to travel to America. It is even made worse because somebody that knows somebody has a winner who has relocated to the united states.

I for one knows couple of people have relocated courtesy the lottery. A neighbour of mine won the lottery and moved his entire family 4 years ago, this really got me under a lot of pressure because an aunt of mine will not let me rest until i do same for her.

The other day at a very busy place in Lagos called ikeja, the public address system was so loud that its almost deafening. The man kept screaming on top of his voice for people to come and register with him, the way he went about it sounds as if its rocket science to fill the forms and as if without him one can not win the visa lottery.
He is not alone in this, i have seen several television advert and listen to couple of radio jingles about the visa lottery.

How i wish we have a country that things are a lot easier , rushing to relocate to America will be minimized.

Lagos hospitality for the German President.

The German president visit to Lagos state have come and gone but the scenes that played out will remain in the memory of the German president Horst Koehler, his wife Eva Luise and the entourage.

I was on Allen Avenue one of the commercial center in Lagos
when i noticed the un-usual traffic situation. Its not that traffic
is new on the axis or Lagos as a whole but the uneasiness i
noticed in people on bikes who are suppose to have easier
movement that buses caught my attention.

The reason for the un-usual traffic got clearer to me when i saw
all manner of law enforcement officials{we have a lot of them in Lagos
in weeks to come iwill be introducing them to you}, it was then i
realized somebody of note is around the axis.

The people were rumbling as the waiting became unbearable and
alas here comes the entourage.

The people were wavering, the bikes doing all sorts of stunts, German and
Nigerian flags were hung on all poles were wavering, the law enforcement
officials were at attention. I even overheard a superior officer charging
at his junior officer to stand well and remove his hand from his pocket.
It was really a sight to be hold.

Nigeria and Germany have one thing in common that i know and that is the
movement of capital. Bonn used to be the capital of old west Germany before
the unification, while calabar was the capital of Nigeria then it was moved to
Lagos but now the capital city is Abuja.

Despite the movement of capital Lagos still remains the nerve center of Nigeria.

We have shown the German Nigerian hospitality, i wish the Germans will
do same when our president visits.

Hope for Lagosians?

Sitting in my office and watching the presentation made by the governor of lagos state Babatunde Raji Fashola presentation to the state house of assembly gives me an assurance that better days are really coming to the state.

If his words are anything to go bye then his initials BRF{better rewarding future} is really apt. He talked about the plans of his administration combating issues like employment, environment, flood control, road construction, security, education, health etc.

It is interesting to say the least that most his manifestos promises are coming to past. The rate at which roads are being constructed gives one a good idea of what the years ahead holds for lagosians.

Employment is another issue he is takling-head-on and this could be linked to the numbers of people who are under the Lagos state government pay role be it directly or indirectly.

Now to the big one TRAFFIC, if you ask any lagosian what they dread most in lagos i am sure you will get not less than 70% telling you its traffic. This is a feature that separates Lagos from any other city in the Nigeria.

The various plans of the government has shown that traffic, will reduced to it's bearest minimum. Signs of this are visible with the introduction of BRT {bus rapid transit} and the planned introduction of order complimenting transport services i.e water, rail etc.

If only other states in the country can emulate the visionary leadership and vigour of the Lagos governor{do i here you say what else do you expect from a SAN{senior advocate of Nigeria} }, then we will have a cause to smile.

Another Closure

Lagosians are getting ready for another road closure, this time
around it will last for four months.
Though we are just recovering from the closure of the 3rd main
land bridge which lasted for two months.
This closure is by the Lagos state government unlike the last one
which was by the federal government.
Though there have been several reaction to this news,one thing remain
and this is the fact that if Lagosians wants good network of roads it
will come will some temporary pains and discomfort.
I listened to all the aides of the Lagos state government who are
saddled with the responsibility of making sure that the traffic situation
during the closure is not as terrible as people like me envisaged. They
all sounded as if they know what they are doing.

One Happy Family

The family is a unit that must be kept together all the time no matter the distance.

A lot of challenges has made some parent neglect their responsibilities.
Meeting parental obligations Nigeria and Lagos is a daunting challenge.

The father and mother very early in the morning and will not be back till
later in the day,so what the children does while they are away is alien to
them.

A lot of organization realized that a happy family is the bed rock of any good economy because it is the smallest unit.

Brands associate with programmes that brings the family together rather than apart.Such brand is maltina.

The 2008 edition of the maltina dance all show is very interesting to say the least,one needs to see the joy that permeates the whole of the family and even viewers.Its indeed a good show.

Other brand should emulate this and sponsor activities that brings the family together.

Sanity in Lagos

Its a hot afternoon,business is gradually winding down.
The vehicular traffic on the jibowu end of ikorodu is still high due to the on going maintenance on the third mainland bridge.

I can see from my office the commotion going on outside.
Street traders are running away from Lagos state KAI{kick against indiscipline}officials.

This type of scene is now a common site in Lagos,the government is hell bent on driving street traders away from the major roads.

The question that comes to mind is that how did we degenerate to this state of lawlessness?

I wish this people will find a better way of making their daily living because this government is going all out.