PREAMBLE:-
The current impasse on the Lagos – Ibadan Expressway is a reflection of the decadent state of Infrastructure in Nigeria and a reflection of:
Bad leadership, mediocrity and gross Incompetency at both State and Federal levels.
Vision-less Leadership particularly in Lagos state and Nigeria
Abysmal failure of Lagos @ 50.
Lack of Regenerative Expenditure in Infrastructural Development in Lagos State and Nigeria
Primary reason for the under development of Nigeria and the clamor for Restructuring/Resource control.
Lagos State attracts a large Migration of people on a daily basis with a high tonnage of goods moving in and out of the State. One would have thought the Government of Lagos State would have tapped in to this, Instead of investing in a Rice Mill with no rice on ground or 4th Mainland Bridge etc etc.The only viable and probably the most important road in Nigeria the Lagos-Ibadan (Toll) Expressway should be the pivot of Regenerative infrastructural development in the South-west and Nigeria. Regenerative Infrastructure simply means infrastructures that generate Inflows (Money,Capital,funds)as opposed to those that don’t generate any inflows such as 4th mainland bridge, new over head bridge and Lay-by bus stops on a dilapidated highway. The Government of Lagos state has to seriously make proper use of our taxes and other IGR’s.
We need to stop all this one bore-hole, one classroom block, a few keke maruwa, one road per LCDA/LGA approach to infrastructure development. These are all Local Government/Local community development area projects. Instead of building a 4th mainland bridge, Lagos state Government should have gotten the concession of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. The billions of Naira meant for the 4th mainland bridge should be seed money for the take off a 10 lane Lagos-Ibadan Expressway with a Railway line and service lanes on both sides starting from Ojota in Lagos and ending in Ojo or IITA in Ibadan.The concession could be in conjunction with Ogun and Oyo States.
Benefits
Creation of new towns with train stations as Central Business Districts (CBD).
Generation of Income from tolls and tickets sales.
Creation of thousands of jobs within the new towns.
Creation of Housing Estates and affordable housing.
Creation of wealth for the land owners and villagers.
Easy movement of goods and passengers (Mass Transportation)
Building of social Infrastructure along the Expressway. (Bridges,lay-by,schools, hospitals,Bus terminals.)
Value for money projects, via development of shopping malls, Hospitals, Schools, Housing Estates,Industries etc.
Growth of Small and Medium scale Enterprises within the new towns.
The value of the Land adjacent to the Expressway will appreciate tremendously with improved living standards for land owners.
Many more attendant synergies from just one project, (Lag-Ibd Exp.way)instead of the non regenerative expenditures embarked on by the LASG that cater for the cronies and family members of the APC leaders, NURTW and its thugs. The state already has a proposed rail project (Blue Line) to Redeem, hence this will accommodate the Blue line. It is pertinent that we invest in regenerative infrastructure that will create new cities with mass transportation. One hopes that the proposed Lagos – Ibadan rail line in conjunction with the Chinese is not going to be thru the same old Iddo – Abeokuta -Ibadan Route. Such a move will add little or no value to the existing route. There will be no new towns,jobs,housing,wealth, investment generated by the same rail line to the same old cities. The rail line will continue to enjoy its old peasantry usage. On the contrary if a new Rail route to Ibadan from Ojota – Berger – Opic – Mowe – MFM / Nasfat – Redeem – Ogere/ Sagamu Junction – New Town 1 – New town 2 – Ibadan toll gate – Gate bypass – Ojo or IITA as finial destination is built along the 10 lane Lagos state concession Lagos – Ibadan express way, we will create new jobs, investments, housing, mass transportation, wealth, CBD’s etc etc.
It will also enjoy more working class usage. This one project alone is the catalyst for the development of Nigeria if our leaders know what to do. There is no amount of money spent on this project that will be lost.The failure of leadership in Nigeria, particularly Lagos at 50 has resulted in the clamor for restructuring and resource control. It is obvious that the Federal Government cannot provide all the regenerative Infrastructures required in Nigeria even if OBAMA or TRUMP was the President of Nigeria. It is the states like Lagos that can move the country forward. A state that generates more than it receives from the Federal Government.
Is it the current leadership that could not and cannot take us to the promised land, that will finally do so after the restructuring has been done. Is it the same old politicians in different political parties who have failed to utilize the resources at their disposal wisely we want to hand over more resources to. Is it the Senators and Reps who are over paid and cannot pass the relevant bills for the development of Nigeria and the 36 states, will take us to the next level.
Failure and excuses are not a choice, we just have to get our act together for the world will not wait for our Mumu-ness. We cannot continue to waste humongous resources on frivolous expenditures like celebration of a failed state at 50, Diesel powered street lights,over bloated government structure with very little return on a recurrent expenditure riddled with leakages, diversion and padding not to talk of over priced capital projects and an unfathomable security vote cesspit.
We need visionary leaders who can see Lagos and Nigeria to a better place for the masses and not for themselves and their cronies. We need leaders who can finish a vision(project) within a short period of time (4 to 5 yrs) and not spending 17 years on a mile 2 – marina road/rail project with billions spent and no date for completion within the nearest future. Nigeria today has a shortage of critical infrastructure, if Obama,Angela Merkel, Christine Lagarde or Aliko Dangote were the president of Nigeria there is very little they can achieve in Nigeria of today, I doubt if they would fear better than PMB, Nigeria needs its states to champion its infrastructural drive, particularly Lagos and Rivers. Unfortunately one is chasing small time transport projects that will benefit its puppet master while the other reminds one of ‘Al pacino’ as scarface the trigger happy gangster.
We need visionary Leaders and not dreamers, looters or political charlatans. We need leaders who can deliver on projects that will impact on the lives of the masses, projects that bring value to the masses and income to the Government and geniue Public Private Partnership (PPP) operators not fronts and family members of the so called political leaders.Unfortunately Good leaders are not anointed,appointed or bought.
I do not see any within the same old wine in different bottles political class of today. Good leaders are born and are God’s gift to mankind.We simply and truly lack quality selfless leadership with an achievable vision for the teaming population in Lagos state and Nigeria as a whole.What we have are incompetent Memyselfandfamily yes men all over the country.
We need the state to invest or invite PPP for Projects like:
1) Lagos – Ibadan 10 lane Express way/Rail line.
2) Lekki – Benin 10 lane Express way via a coastal road.
3) Lekki – Abuja High speed Rail line/Expressway via Akure.
4) East and West circular road around Lagos state.
5) Badagry – Ilorin 10 lane Express way/ Rail line.
6) Badagry Refinery.
Some of this Regenerative Infrastructure could be paid for with crude oil, IGR,local Bank funding,Pension funds or we seek Genuine foreign investors who require a more serious minded government and the right atmosphere for doing business devoid of political influences of all sorts. This is my small contribution to Lagos State home of our ancestors, for a better future for the masses.
Vote Wisely
Please collect your PVC
Ask Questions and be informed.
Make a change for yourself.
Spread this message for the same road and rail network development can be done all over Nigeria.
Engr H. A Baruwa
Proudly Nigerian
08157321843
www.twitter.com/changelagos2019
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