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Beauty
for Her Ashes
The Lagos State
government recently began moves to beautify the environment in Nigeria's
commercial city. How far will this effort go,
asks SEUN
AKIOYE
 Every
evening, Tayo Adewole sits under the shade of the cocoanut tree.
The breeze carried with it a pleasant coolness that leaves one with
goose pimples. Here, he has found peace and rest away from the hustle
and bustle that has characterized most evenings in Lagos. Everyday
that he comes around, he is armed with books to study for his Senior
school Certificate examination for here at the relaxation gardens
in Alausa, amidst natures blessings he can read with the luxury
of some quietness. Adewole is not the only one to enjoy the goodness
of the relaxation park in Alausa, Innocent Ihensekhien, also has
found solace in the park. “I come here for relaxation and business,”
he said.
Moreover, as
one wonders what sort of business, he offered, “Anytime I am here
I must surely take photographs for people who are coming here for
the first time, so you see, as I take time out to relax my brain
I also make money” These scenarios to many do not represent the
Lagos they know, though it may have some semblance to the Lagos
they want. To many residents and visitors alike, living in Lagos
represent hell on earth and most are quick to point to the high
living standards, the rickety road conditions, non- availability
of the basic infrastructure, the rowdiness, hustling and bustling
in and around Lagos metropolis. Indeed, while these observations
are correct in part as reflective of many cosmopolitan cities worldwide,
Lagos state government recently went on a corrective mission. According
to the Director, environmental services in the Ministry of Environment,
Mrs. Titi Anibaba, the recent beatification exercise of the government
is to regain the ecstatic beauty of Lagos.
 Adding
to that the Public Relations officer in the ministry, Mr. Sina Thorpe
said most open spaces, roundabouts, and road medians in Lagos are
being abused so the government has decided to embark on the project
not only to reclaim the beauty of the said areas but also allow
the public have access to such areas for relaxation. This vision
gave birth to series of projects aimed at beautifying Lagos, to
create awareness for citizens to keep the state clean and establishing
task force groups to arrest and prosecute offenders according to
the laid down procedures. Notably, some relaxation gardens sprang
up. These gardens provide a get away for many Lagosians from the
hectic environmental situations and they are suitable for intellectual
activities. A survey around Lagos reveals that families have turned
some of these parks into picnic sites at weekends. A typical Sunday
at the Alausa gardens is carnival like. Families come from distant
places as Sango Otta to enjoy t he serenity offered by the garden.
Thus, hitherto jungles suddenly turn out to be a paradise; the love
of many and people come from far and near to behold the beauty.
At the Alausa gardens, every tree, every grass and flower were planted
and cultured. “ It does not only serve picnickers but “ It is also
very condusive for the business of photography people coming here
for the first time will like to take pictures, some at the weekdays
also come here to read” offered Ihensekhien. The project is not
limited to relaxation gardens; road medians and roundabouts are
also undergoing serious face-lifts. Prominent among these are the
Ikeja round about, Agidingbi triangle, and Falomo roundabout, which
was commissioned on November 5, 2003.
At these centers,
flowers, trees and grasses are planted and maintained in the morning
and nights, lights are fitted and at night, it serve the dual purpose
of beautification and security as it illuminates the surrounding
areas. Nevertheless, the biggest of the project is the Falomo roundabout
in Ikoyi, which is being maintained by the Continental Trust Bank.
The new look roundabout not only has an array of flowers and twinkling
lights, it also boast of a fountain, the type that could be seen
in any big city in the world. It is the ultimate definition of beauty
and it offers such pleasure to the eyes. Perhaps realizing the futility
of beatifying Lagos without inculcating the right culture of maintenance
into Lagosians, the state on November 3rd launched Campaign Against
Indiscipline. The campaign under the theme “ Kick Against Indiscipline”
KAI was conceptualized in 2001 as the principal vehicle for additional
strategies introduced to combat the menace of environmental problems
and to stimulate statewide awareness for behavioral and attitudinal
change concerning the usage of the environment. The KAI implementation
group consists of uniformed state KAI brigade, uniformed local government
street captains, public health environmental sanitarians etc. In
a nutshell, KAI goal is to make Lagosians develop, sustain a patriotic
attitude towards the environment by taking action against filth,
dirt, street trading and all unhygienic habits.
Though these
latest efforts are not new entirely, as there has been the campaign
of War Against Indiscipline (WAI) by the Buhari Idiagbon regime,
KAI ‘s goal is to etch out a patriotic approach to its environmental
assignment. But beauty is not without its costs. The maintenance
of the project is capital intensive, but according to the Ministry
of Environment, the state government has enlisted the support of
the private sector in this area. Mostly drawn from the banking sector,
banks such as Equatorial Trust Bank, Citizens Bank, Guaranty Trust
Bank etc and others like Econet wireless; 7.Up Company, Yinka Folawiyo
Group, and the Oniru family are some of those who have taken up
parts of Lagos for beautification. Instructively, most Lagosians
have got the message while some others feel the project is a waste
of time.” Toyin Adekoya, a student resident believes it is another
go at goose chasing “I think they should just leave Lagos as it
is. This is not working, it is all counter productive, let us face
it, Lagos cannot be clean and t he earlier we realize that the better.”
Femi Sunday, a transporter sees the whole essence of beautification
as one big hypocrisy, he said, behind every move and project by
any government lie the self motive, otherwise such project would
never have been done for altruistic reasons. People like Ihensekhien
however greatly differ from such opinion “ We have a responsive
proactive government
. I think more
of these should be done. The private sector that makes money should
also help out. If we Lagosians decide Lagos will be clean and beautiful,
then it will.” This development has however raised series of pertinent
questions bordering on the sincerity of the government to turn the
ashes of Lagos into beauty.
Will this turn
out to be another soon to be abandoned project? Lagosians according
to Ihensekhien, will be able to answer that question.
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