Aaargh This Presidential Lagos Traffic!!!
Today – February 19, 2015, Mr President – Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is commissioning four newly acquired naval warships for the Nigerian Navy (NN) at the Naval Dockyard Ltd, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The confinement to the air conditioned space around me for hours on end, the sound of frustrated drivers blaring their horns for no sensible reason and the looks of sheer exhaustion from all the faces about me are the classic telltale signs of traffic in Lagos. Add the sounds of constant sirens and absolutely little to no movement for what can seem like days and we have ourselves a presidential traffic in Lagos.
We should have full blown adverts declaring when any member of our almighty presidency from the chosen land, Abuja will be visiting our low and humble Lagos state. Those adverts should also announce that the selected day of visit would be declared a public holiday for all residents of Lagos state.
Once, I was actually stuck in traffic for three hours in Osbourne because, get this, not the president but the Vice President was visiting my area. By the time I reached my destination, my brain was tired, angry and adamantly refusing to work. The worst part was, before that fateful day, I felt I had finally understood Lagos traffic; avoid certain areas at certain times and you will be fine. Many times, presidential traffics are sporadic, unannounced and just plain infuriating. Every time, they amplify the already bad Lagos traffic, drain precious man power (that is already in limited supply in Lagos) and make one regret leaving their homes when they get to their appointments two hours late because the president or someone from his office in Abuja is in Lagos.
Dear Mr. president, I am sure you are not aware of the anger and exasperation your visit to Lagos causes but let me ride with you in your car during a presidential traffic and if we can talk honestly, I’ll just say, but why? Why must the commercial capital of the largest economy in Africa suffer so much when you decide to visit it? Why must its residents groan in easily avoidable agony when you are in town? Declare it a public holiday and it’s a win-win situations. You have the all the roads to yourself and we have a day free of traffic induced frustration. But then, dear Mr. president, you’d never let me ride with you during a presidential traffic, would you?
Were you caught in the traffic today? Share your Lagos traffic stories with us. What do you think can be done to combat the traffic menace?