By Emeka Alex Duru
Humility is not an act commonly associated with Nigerian politicians. This, in a way, explains why they hardly share the podium with anybody, including even those who elected them to their various positions.
They are also opaque in their actions, hence, they rarely subject themselves to scrutiny by the electorate.
Lagos State is however, taking steps that indicate radical departure from the odious tradition.
Where, for instance, it had been the trend for the government to flaunt its achievements – real or imagined, the State is encouraging the electorate to point out areas that it needs to address, to impact fully on the people.
This was precisely the mission by the Commissioner for Information and Strategies, Kehinde Bamigbetan, at an interactive session with media men, recently.
The Commissioner, who acknowledged that the Governor Akinwunmi Ambode administration had recorded some feats in its three years of inauguration, also sought feedback on areas the government may not have met the expectations of the people, for possible improvement.
“Ours is to serve the people. That was precisely why we were elected. In seeking the votes from the people, Governor Ambode had made some promises to them.
“Nearly three years into the journey, we consider it proper to listen to the people and learn from them the areas they think we have performed very well, as well as the areas they think we should give more attention and accord more priorities. This is in line with the maxim that power belongs to the people”, Bamigbetan declared.
The exercise, he said, was that given the chances of the governor going for second term, his campaign, this time around, would be based on his achievements, rather than promises, as in his first time.
The encounter, which was not restricted to any topic, covered such areas as security, land and water transportation, traffic management, economy of the state and garbage disposal, among others.
On the mountain of garbage in Lagos streets, the Commissioner admitted that it is an issue that cannot be wished away. He said: “It is a story that is constantly being told. It is a journey”.
He stressed that aside the health challenge which the garbage poses to the residents, the government considers it a bad publicity for any first time visitor in Lagos.
He added that given the State’s drive at making tourism a major revenue earner, it constitutes a bad image on the State for a tourist to come out of his or hotel only to be greeted with heaps of refuse.
He, thus assured that the government was putting strong measures in place to tackle the menace.
Part of his explanations for the sorry state of affairs in that direction, was the controversy over the streamlining of the areas of operation between the Private Sector Participation (PSP) operators and the newly engaged Visionscape management.
He stated that the grey areas between their areas of operation were being resolved, adding that in the days ahead, the embarrassment arising from garbage disposal would be a thing of the past.
Going by its culture of rapid refuse disposal in the recent past, many had applauded Lagos as gradually measuring to its claim of being Nigeria’s centre of excellence.
Added to its agenda at being counted among the World’s mega cities, its disposition to refuse collection and disposal, had mattered much to other states in the federation that had looked up to it as a model.
When therefore, the state slipped from the enviable height it had created for itself on environmental consciousness and refuse disposal, many were understandably taken aback.
A resident of Ikeja, the capital city, Akintunde Olowu, told our correspondent that tackling the refuse issue is an engagement the government must give serious attention to, if it must continue to enjoy the respect of the people.
“The other day when I went to the Mile 2 side of the state, through LASU – Ojo Expressway, I was appalled at the mountain of garbage at some points on the road. That does not tell well of the state. It is a poor publicity on us. I call on the governor to do all he can to get this behind us”, he stressed.
Residents from other parts of the state, raised similar complaints. But with the assurances by Bamigbetan, Lagos may reclaim its glowing reputation in the sector.
Water supply in major parts of the state, also came up at the parley. The Commissioner admitted the challenge in the sector, adding however, that the government was doing much to alleviate the situation.
According to him, there were 27 water projects going on in the state, adding that the State Water Corporation had been spending much in the exercise.
The snag, he added, was that given the enormous financial outlay in sourcing the water, it would be too much on the state to be also involved in the reticulation. Consequently, he said, the government had been inviting companies that could go into water reticulation.
Our Correspondent gathered that it was in appreciation of difficulties in the sector, that administration has refrained from enforcing the laws on boreholes until it fixes the problem with reticulation.
Participants also took the Commissioner on the absence of the Lagos State Transport Management Authority (LASTMA) personnel in some parts of the state. While pledging to take up the matter with the appropriate authorities, Bamigbetan, however bemoaned the attitude of unscrupulous members of the public to the traffic marshals, stressing that some of them had been knocked down by reckless motorists and commercial motorcycle (Okada) operators in course of their assignment.
He recalled incidences where LASTMA officials had been attacked by Okada riders in the course of their duties but “instead of helping to rescue the officials, people would be watching and using their telephones to video the scenes”.
The Commissioner called for a change of attitude in this respect, stressing that members of the public have the responsibility to assist law enforcers.
On the debilitating snarl in some parts of the state as well as the falling portions of the roads, Bamigbetan promised getting across to the officers responsible for necessary actions.
Speaking particularly on the Itire – Berliet section of the Apapa – Oshiodi Expressway that was going bad, the Commissioner promptly drew the attention of officials of the Ministry of Works to the development.
Incidentally, a day after, investigations by TheNiche, indicated that the portions of the road that were going bad, had been fixed.
Romanus Udom, a yellow bus (Danfo) driver, described the quick intervention on the issue, as governance in the right sense.
“ I surprise that them don patch the road. I pass there yesterday and saw the road going bad. But when I pass today, I no see the bad spots again. I hear say na Logos State government do am. I thank the governor very well. Na so government suppose de act”, he uttered in smattering Pidgin English.
The gathering also gave the administration credit in areas it was seen to have done well. Security of life and properties, was among the areas, the Ambode administration was adjudged to have given a good account of itself.
It was also celebrated for encouraging harmonious inter-ethnic, inter-religious relations among the residents, among other areas.
There were however suggestions that the government should spread its development agenda to all parts of the states in such manner that some sections do not feel marginalised in the scheme of things.
