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.