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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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