The perception about the ease of living in any city is premised on how a foreigner can easily adapt to the lifestyle in a city without hardship.

Recently, the United States Embassy in Nigeria put out a travel advisory to US citizens travelling to Nigeria. Except the citizen is a high-risk taker or an adventurer, or the stakes are handsomely high, no sane person would want to take the risk of visiting this country after reading that advisory.

Universally, the following factors and components make the overall score under Environment & Culture in assessing the livability of a city.

It is believed that once the roads are relieved of commuters due to the huge number of commuters using the train services, a systematic and gradual renewal and upgrading of all areas of the state should be embarked upon with a mindset to make Lagos the most livable city in Africa.

• Humidity/temperature rating
• Discomfort of climate
• Social or religious restrictions
• Level of censorship
• Food and drink
• Cultural availability
• Social or religious restrictions
• Level of corruption
• Sporting availability/recreational facilities
• Consumer goods and services

Lagos may not do too well on all the factors when one considers the peculiarity of the state vis-à-vis its motor driving culture, state of the environment and respect for the rule of law.

The city may have a fair showing in the areas of humidity and temperature, discomfort of climate, social or religious restrictions, level of censorship as well as cultural availability. However, it will score abysmally low on the level of corruption, sporting availability/recreational facilities, and consumer goods and services.

The US embassy advisory berated the country on the quality of goods and services, transportation as well as the quality of roads, which was referred to as ‘very crude infrastructure’.

The level of lawlessness and impunity with which motorcyclists and tricyclists conduct their business in Lagos is most worrisome. They are a law unto themselves. They crowd up the roads illegally and move against traffic at will.

The corridors along our highways have been turned to markets of all sorts. Sidewalks meant for pedestrians are clogged with traders’ wares. Human and pedestrian traffic co-mingle. There is serious noise and air pollution everywhere, whilst the greens have suddenly disappeared, leaving in its wake weeds and bushes and abandoned vehicles of all shades and forms.

The urban landscape begs for renewal and the culture of maintenance of public utilities needs to be vigorously pursued.

If Lagos needs social mobilisation and orientation, it is more urgent now than ever before because activities could grind to a halt as a result of the insecurity, lawlessness, filth, congestion and lack of care and concern for our environment.

There is no doubt that the rate of migration from neighbouring states is overburdening the infrastructure in the city. As a subnational, it may not be able to control the migrants but there could be an arrangement with neighbouring states to stem the tide of migration.

For the city of Lagos to wear a new look and remove its unsavoury toga, the local government authorities need to be made more effective as they are closest to the grassroots.

Sao Paolo in Brazil has the same type of population as Lagos, but it is able to a large extent manage the infrastructure and control the urban landscape.

For improved productivity, and to attract tourists and foreign investments into Lagos with the massive investment in the mass transit schemes of the Blue and Red Lines billed to commence operations in the last quarter of this year, the state government needs to sanitize the entire corridors and institute a culture for the stakeholders to have a buy-in into this ambitious programme.

The state could seize this opportunity to improve its score in the areas of corruption by putting in place a system that is foolproof in the management of the trains, the stations, the corridors, the ticketing, the maintenance routine as well as the security of commuters. This will have a bandwagon effect on the psyche of commuters and could be used as a tool for transformative intervention.

The delivery of goods and services on the trains should be of utmost priority. We can equally showcase the culinary skills of Lagos through adverts on the trains, as well as through refreshments to be served in the course of commuting.

Vast spaces along the corridors could equally be harnessed to serve as green areas as well as recreational and sporting facilities.

The delivery of goods and services on the trains should be of utmost priority. We can equally showcase the culinary skills of Lagos through adverts on the trains, as well as through refreshments to be served in the course of commuting.

It is believed that once the roads are relieved of commuters due to the huge number of commuters using the train services, a systematic and gradual renewal and upgrading of all areas of the state should be embarked upon with a mindset to make Lagos the most livable city in Africa.

*Onabanjo is of GO- FORTE FOUNDATION

The post The ease of living in Lagos amidst its culture and environment appeared first on Frontpageng.

• ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE

Proper policy to fund construction of roads should be put in place. Hitherto, the road tax was part of fuel price. This sum was dedicated to road construction. A sustainable infrastructural development scheme should be put in place by every state government. Standard designs and specifications for the various road categories must be established. These roads must have proper drainages and sidewalks. A road maintenance programme should be instituted.

*Highway Corridors: Since Nigerians have the habit of encroaching and setting up markets along most highways, a highway monitoring and control unit should be set up to strictly enforce the non-encroachment of the corridors along our highways.

*Road Signs: Adequate traffic and road signs should be placed on all our roads and strict enforcement should be maintained.

• HOUSING SCHEMES AND RESIDENTIAL ESTATES

Most of the infrastructure in our housing schemes and residential estates need an upgrade. The concept of sites and services provision should be revisited. Also, an infrastructure reform should be established to mandate all developers to put in place first the services before any structure is erected. The infrastructural support fund should be extended to housing. This will help in sanitizing our residential neighbourhoods as most of them do not have infrastructure, thus becoming very huge slums shortly after they are occupied. The infrastructure should include water, gas, electricity, sewer, drainage, sidewalks, etc. A comparative cost analysis should be carried out between the underground infrastructure and the surface infrastructure.

Most of the infrastructure in our housing schemes and residential estates need an upgrade. The concept of sites and services provision should be revisited.

• DRAINAGES

Generally, the drainage infrastructure in Nigeria is sub-optimal. Whereas we are at par with developed countries in the areas of financial services technology and internet access provisions, we seem to be fixated on the open drain system which has been discarded at the turn of the 20th century for underground drain systems. The underground drain system, though more capital intensive, is more efficient and keeps the cities clean and does not take up space. The open drain or covered drains take up valuable space for sidewalks, they are dangerous, particularly during flooding, unhygienic, because they harbour all manner of debris and they largely contribute to the ugliness in most of our neighbourhoods and city centres. It will be a delight to take a giant leap and have an integrated drainage system to include storm water, as well as sewage and surface water. The technology to flush or suck blocked drainage pipes should be adopted for maintenance. This should be made compulsory for all new urban residential settlements as well as city centres. With this, our roads will be rid of filth associated with open drains.

• SIDEWALKS

Legislation to ensure appropriately sized sidewalks to be part of our road architecture must be put in place, particularly on all roads in residential neighbourhoods and city centres. They must be finished with suitable materials that are stable, firm and slip-resistant. This will bring back the culture of walking and will improve social interactions among the citizens.

• GREEN FIELDS

Attention should be given to greening our environment, and provisions must be consciously made for large open spaces for communal gathering and recreation. These green spaces, quiet streets and recreation parks are important for relaxation, health and sports, nature watching and social activities. Open areas and green parks are important building blocks for promoting good quality of life in urban environments. Compulsory greenbelts for recreation and conservation should be gazetted by legislation making it impossible for its use to be reversed.

• WASTE MANAGEMENT

The management and disposal of waste have been a major challenge for our cities and towns. A waste disposal hierarchy and protocol should be put in place, followed by the reduce, reuse, recycle and other forms of recovery such as energy from waste, and improved final disposal, followed by monitoring. The provision of landfills and recycling sites must be carefully considered.

• METAL/CAR CRUSHERS

All abandoned vehicles on all our roads should be removed. Provisions should be made for metal crushers and iron smelters in various cities for the recycling of all the metal scraps obtained from abandoned and unserviceable vehicles.

• STRENGTHENING THE PLANNING, APPROVAL, MONITORING AND ENFORCEMENT MINISTRY

The physical planning units in each city must be strengthened for monitoring, compliance and enforcement of all planning regulations. The specifications for provisions of green areas within residential developments must be enforced. Most physical planning units in the country lack the requisite manpower to monitor and enforce the planning laws. Every state must develop its own masterplan, and this must be subject to review periodically.

Every state should have a vibrant department monitoring and controlling the trends in various settlements. These developments must be compared with the master plan of the areas.

• DELIBERATE ATTEMPT TO BEAUTIFY

The government should have departments of parks and gardens in all cities saddled with the responsibility of deliberately beautifying the cities.

• CITIZEN PARTICIPATION

Involving citizens in urban planning helps ensure sustainable economic development and plays a vital role in providing well-planned cities. Well-governed cities and towns that involve their citizens in environmental decision making will lead to better planning for the future and it will help to ensure the sustainability of the created system. There is a need for an Integrated Environmental Management System (IEMS). This helps to avoid conflict by considering the demands between the various policy areas and initiatives.

• URBAN RENEWAL AND REGENERATION

Every state should have a vibrant department monitoring and controlling the trends in various settlements. These developments must be compared with the master plan of the areas. All blighted areas should be earmarked for constant upgrade.

Finally, a city is as beautiful as the soul of citizens engaged to plan it. In the early 1970s, two new highbrow settlements were conceived in two different countries in Africa. One was in Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria to serve as a buffer for the rapidly expanding commerce in Lagos Island. The other was in Sandton, Johannesburg in South Africa.

Today, Sandton comprises the corporate offices of virtually all top companies in South Africa. It is the financial district of South Africa. The Johannesburg Stock Exchange and three out of four major banks in South Africa have their headquarters located in Sandton. It is the most expensive neighbourhood per square metre south of the Sahara. It compares in terms of infrastructure, sophistication and beauty with the most beautiful cities in the world, whereas the Victoria Island extension in Lagos is blighted and does not command the value and respect it should. The blight arose due to the quality of planning and the infrastructure provided. The lack of enforcement and monitoring of building codes, coupled with inadequate maintenance, contributed largely to its decay. The same scenario is observed in most upscale neighbourhoods in the state. Lagos, being the city of excellence, needs to provide leadership for other states in the country to follow.

Here’s hoping that henceforth we will make conscious efforts to make our cities clean, healthy, beautiful and liveable.

*Onabanjo is the founder of GO-FORTE FOUNDATION, an organisation dedicated to the restoration of the environment.

The post It’s time to enhance the look and feel of our cities (2), By Gbenga Onabanjo appeared first on Frontpageng.

Let me be upfront here: I am a lover of the traditional roundabouts bequeathed to us by the British, just as I am an advocate of the parliamentary system of government. The signalised junction is good in an environment where the infrastructural support and discipline are available. However, given our peculiarities, it may not be ideal at this time.

When the idea to intervene and improve on Allen Avenue junction was mooted, I had my reservations about the removal of the roundabout and replacing with a signalised junction. I wondered why the option of introducing a multi-lane flyover along the Obafemi Awolowo Road was not considered. My reasons are not farfetched:

• Ikeja is the commercial centre and the seat of the Executive Governor of Lagos State.
• Ikeja generates a lot of commerce for the State and considerable revenue accrues to it on account of the business activities from the area.
• If flyovers could be erected along Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way and Oba Akran Avenue in the 80s and 90s, when the vehicular population was less than half of what it is currently, a much bigger and sophisticated flyover should be ideal for the year 2010 and beyond.
• If cost is the issue, a computation of economic losses suffered due to man-hours lost due to traffic will favour the choice of erecting a flyover that would enhance more economic activities.

However, if truly the resources available cannot accommodate the erection of a flyover, I would have opted for an expanded but signalised multi-lane roundabout. To make this to work, a massive public enlightenment campaign would need to be put out through various media.

A 60-second video of the situation at the junction at any time of the day will reveal the inherent challenges faced by motorists there. The following are my observations after being on duty at the junction for an hour as a Traffic Marshal.

• The bus stops are located too close to the junction. This impedes traffic considerably because of the indiscipline of our commercial bus drivers. The locations should be reviewed, particularly the stops along Obafemi Awolowo Road.
• There is a need for pedestrian control barriers to be put in place along the junctions to prevent pedestrians milling unto the road at will and causing obstructions to free flow of traffic.
• Aromire Road is noted to be the major cause of the gridlock. The three other carriageways are large enough to contain the traffic flowing into them. However, Aromire Road acts as a funnel, which causes a lot of traffic tailback. The entire stretch of Aromire Road needs to be dualised. This should be carried through to Adeniyi Jones Avenue for the efforts to be effective.

Traffic officers should be stationed at the junction continuously for at least a month to introduce and instill the proper driving culture at this junction in the new year to make the investments to be worth its while.

• In addition to the offside markings at the junctions, directional signs showing the lanes and swing of the vehicles should be inscribed on the road floor to aid motorists to keep to their lanes in a multi-lane junction.
• Marked out signs should be inscribed on the road floor: Left Turn Only, Right Turn Only, etc.
• Provisions should be made for a motorbike park at the junction neighbourhood. Motorcyclists should be prevented from clogging the pedestrian walkways at the junctions.
• The pedestrian signals must be restored in good time to enhance pedestrian safety.
• The signals should be programmed to allow vehicles making U-turns and turning left in opposite directions to go at the same time. These vehicles making U-turns should stay on the innermost lane, close to the median.
• Motorists and cyclists should be advised, encouraged or forced to stay behind the STOP sign line.
• Motorists and cyclists should be advised, encouraged or coerced to keep to the designated lanes.
• Motorists and cyclists should be advised, encouraged or coerced to obey the traffic signals.
• The pedestrian crosswalks should be kept free for pedestrians to walk on.
• The rule of law must be enforced at the junctions. Video cameras can be introduced. All traffic offenders should be brought to book.
• Alternative power source should be provided as a backup during power outages.

Traffic officers should be stationed at the junction continuously for at least a month to introduce and instill the proper driving culture at this junction in the new year to make the investments to be worth its while. The billboard at the Aromire junction could also be used to illustrate and drive home these messages.

*Onabanjo is the founder of Go-Forte Foundation, an organisation dedicated to the restoration of the environment.

The post Allen Avenue: From traditional roundabouts to signalised junctions appeared first on Frontpageng.