May 29th, 2015 ushered in a new government of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos state, taking over from the minister of works, power and housing, Mr Raji Babatunde Fashola and the general feeling was that the ‘new’ governor would improve on the already high standard of governance of his predecessor. That at the moment is not the case.
The Ambode administration ushered in an old kind of living hitherto forgotten under the immediate past administration. Although some would argue that his predecessor, Babatunde Fashola did nothing to stop crime in Lagos apart from to pay newspaper editors to reduce reportage of crime incidents.
It’s a well-known fact that Lagos State is the economic capital of Nigeria and hub of major movers and shakers of the country. Lagos is very critical to the growth of the nation in all ramifications and it’s not surprising seeing people flocking on a daily basis to the state in search of a better, brighter rewarding future.
The more the people ‘migrate’ to Lagos, the more the states facilities are stretched thin, hence an upsurge in the crime level in the state.
Under the Fashola administration, crime was reduced to barest minimum and it wasn’t a daily occurrence for people to robbed in traffic as it is done now.
With the coming on board of Governor Ambode, he brought back the longer traffic gridlock which Lagosians were gradually forgetting under Fashola. It should be noted here that traffic however was heavy under Fashola but became heavier under Ambode.
Suffice to say, as the traffic gridlock became heavier, so also the crime rate increased, sadly.
In all fairness to the present administration, the governor who has been labelled as misfit for the top job in Lagos has gone out of its way to purchase high tech gadgets and weapons to combat the criminals. Last week Friday, President Muhammadu Buhari commissioned three helicopters, 15 armoured personnel carriers, APCs, two gunboats, 165 vehicles and others purchased at a cost of N4.765 billion by Lagos Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode for the police.
The full security equipment commissioned by the president are 100 four-door saloon cars, 55 Ford Ranger Pick-Ups, 10 Toyota Land Cruiser Pick-Ups, 15 BMW Power Bikes, 100 other Power Bikes, Isuzu Trucks, three Helicopters, two Gun Boats, 15 APCs, Revolving Lights, Siren and Public Address System, Vehicular Radio Communicators, Security Gadgets including Bullet Proof Vests, Helmets, Handcuffs, uniforms, kits, and improved Insurance and Death Benefit Schemes for the police.
However more remains to be done, despite the tough talk by Governor Ambode as regards hawkers and commercial vehicle operators whose non-chalance to driving best practices, norms and ethics have combined to turn Lagos into a driver’s nightmare, nothing visible has been done to impact on their activities.
According to a poll conducted by Herald News, 56% of respondents believe that Governor Ambode is incapable of bringing Lagos traffic under control.
THE HERALD after researching Gidi_Traffic reports brings to you the tales of armed robbery incidents in the Center of Excellence. Lagosians have through the vibrant social media ‘thanked’ Governor Ambode for being robbed by plantain sellers while in a heavy traffic. Lagosians began to ponder where the taxes paid by them were being used for. These are a few tales of robberies in Lagos Traffic.
It's sad nothin is being done about these robberies, Cos I can bet they will be there again tomorrow, Same Time waiting for the new targets.
— Babs (@BabatundeCASH) November 17, 2015
No Police, No security agents at sight to help…just Unarmed citizens looking at each other helplessly.
It was a scary experience.
— Babs (@BabatundeCASH) November 17, 2015
O boy! U're next! I took my windows down hid my phone and kept my tab where they could see it…I was willing to sacrifice that not my life.
— Babs (@BabatundeCASH) November 17, 2015
Was a victim of working Ambode's bad administration today. Pls clap for him for me. 🙌🙌🙌. @yojora @Gidi_Traffic pic.twitter.com/IuBiCGrIEK
— Oluwole Olarewaju (@WoleMike) November 4, 2015
Gunshots at d GBAGADA end of Iyana Oworo. Some people leaving their vehicles&runnin forward. No @PoliceNG presence anywhere. @Gidi_Traffic
— A.Y. (@ayokvnle) November 2, 2015
Was a victim of working Ambode's bad administration today. Pls clap for him for me. 🙌🙌🙌. @yojora @Gidi_Traffic pic.twitter.com/IuBiCGrIEK
— Oluwole Olarewaju (@WoleMike) November 4, 2015
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