Beautification Of Lagos - Demolition of Illegal Structures

by Balogun
(Lagos)

Lagos Nigeria is beautiful in certain respect. It is a commercial centre where your commercial and profit dreams can come true. It is a mega city where opportunities abound and where smart folks make crazy amount of money.

Need FREE money? Then come to Lagos Nigeria. Here, money virtually grow on trees.

However, it is ugly in some other respect. For example in terms of cleanness, garbage disposal, traffic jams, electricity failure, utilities failure etc.

The state government is taking a bold step to tackle the problems. One of the steps is to beautify Lagos.

The Lagos state government is approaching this from several fronts.

1. Re-designing roundabouts

2. Expanding narrow roads and intersections

3. Installation of street lights

4. Demolition of 'illegal' trading structures

5. Condemnation of street trading

. . . and more.

The concept is good, even commendable. Illegal structures should not be allowed to adorn our streets and spoil the beauty of Lagos.

However, those structures labelled as illegal are the mushroom trading post of the many poor of Lagos state . . . folks who left their villages without basic amenities in search of the good life in Lagos. People who came searching for gold in Lagos but who, instead, were hit by poverty and are living on the edge of society.

The government has demolished many such trading structures without providing an alternative means of livelihood.

The government has not provided a social welfare system these people can fall back on while searching for a means of livelihood. Yet the little they had were heartlessly destroyed.

This is my candid advice . . . Make Lagos beautiful but take it one thing at a time. Handle the beautification project with a touch of kindness, goodness, and godliness.

These folks are Nigerians. They are poor. They are helpless. They are searching for a means of survival.

Help them. Be considerate toward them.