Allow me rant a little.

Today it took me about 3 hours to complete the barely 25km journey from Ikeja to Victoria Island.

“Why didn’t you leave earlier? ” would be the typical response. But why the fuck should one leave earlier than 9am for a 12 noon appointment at a place that should not take 30 minutes to get to.

Of course those Nigerians that optimize for the substandard  would point out the traffic in other cities like New York without explain that the public transport alternative is available and quite predictable. You have an option. In Lagos, everyone is meted the same punishment.

In London, you go,”we’ll meet at 1 pm”. In Lagos, you go “we’ll meet around 1-2 by God’s grace.” a one hour range needs the intercession on the creator.

The reason for this absolute fuckery that kills hours for millions of Lagosians daily is because of the absolute absence of any resemblance of a city plan that takes into cognizance the need for business districts.

Why I’m doubly pissed is that the opportunity to avert this was as recent as this past decade. The Mainland – Island traffic horror had always been known. As at the year 2000, the area after Oniru towards Epe was practically virgin. But rather than plan for the expansion of the VI – Ajah axis the Lagos State Government was napping, or rather spending billions and a decade focused on creating a business out of tollgates on the less than 15 km of road.

Now we have the whole of Lagos coming to Victoria Island to work at by the same time and leaving at the same time by 4pm. to spend another minimum of 2 hours on the road (as for those living more than 20 km from VI, I sorry for them)

Lagos requires leaving home at 5am to get to work 20 km away, early. Leave home 5 am, get to work before 6am. Leave at 6am, get to work after 9am! And this aplies to those coming to VI from Ikeja or Ajah. The Ajah – VI axis is more ridiculous. Only two lanes on each side and just a single access (Fun anecdote. Once there was a protest on that road because of an accident and there was NO WAY for people living in Ajah to get to work that day. Madness!!!)

A simple development of the shoreline (in black) and creating a new business district (orange rectangle) out it the area around the Lagos Business School would have eased of the pressure on Victoria Island and would have rapidly developed the Epe area as a residential zone which would key into the Lekki Free Trade Zone plan and the 4th mainland Bridge (in red).

Of course someone somewhere would be very excited to explain why the above is not really possible.

If Ambode wants to really solve this, he should live in Ajah for a 3 month period and go to work in Lagos Island form there everyday. Of course with no sirens.

Of course the above would mean politicians prioritizing the needs of citizens.

Heh!

 

PS: forgive typos and errors. No be that one dey worry me now.