By Augustine Akhilomen
Four Years and eight months into his administration as Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-olu seems less concerned about the need to revive functioning street lights across some eye-brow areas and corners of the state.
Many Lagosians have indeed become victims to the daredevils of the night due to failed street lights that could have illuminated the environment and ensured their safety.
No doubt, streetlights are critical utilities in contemporary cities because of the immense benefits they provide. For instance, apart from promoting security in urban areas, they also enhance safety for drivers, riders, and pedestrians, in addition to increasing the quality of life by artificially “extending the hours.”
Unfortunately however, streetlights are increasingly becoming ornamental in many parts of the state, as they are either non-functional, even on major roads or are working in fits and starts. Expectedly, this trend of epileptic services has heightened incidences of insecurity across the state.
Just over two years ago, major roads and streets that enjoyed some level of illumination have again been thrown into total or partial darkness, due to poor maintenance, lack of attention or a combination of the two. In some cases, vandalisation of street light installations have led to permanent darkness in parts of the state.
In areas visited by Thepledge in Gbagada – Oshodi – Apapa expressway, Lekki – Epe expressway, Igando – LASU road, Maryland – Mobolaji Bank Anthony, Ajah, Abule Egba, Iyana Ipaja, Ejigbo, Iju road, Oba Akran, Obafemi Awolowo, Toyin Street, Bode Thomas, Lawanson Road, among other areas, are all without functional street lights despite having it erected.
The situation in locations like Ikeja GRA, Alausa, Victoria Island, Oniru, Lekki, Ikoyi, and a few others, is relatively better. But residents believe the government must give the entire populace a sense of belonging to avoid being labeled as an administration that focuses on the elite, leaving the masses to suffer.
Residents are groaning over the darkness that pervades several areas amid the increasing insecurity. It is now so bad that tales of agonizing experiences are shared at homes, offices, places of worship, beer parlours, and on social media every day.
Simeon, a Surulere resident said he had, at different times, heard people complain how unsafe they feel in Lagos at dark hours.
“The government should fix the problem urgently. When I’m returning from work, the only place I see lights on is Adeniran Ogunsanya.
“But the ones on Itire road, Ogunlana drive, Akobi crescent, as well as Adelabu, Akerele, Adekunle Kuye streets and others are mostly off. It’s not good”.
Some light stands that were erected along Isolo Road (from Iyana Isolo up to Ojuwoye Market in Mushin) are not working efficiently. A resident in the area, Adekunle Areo wondered the rationale behind decorating streets with lamp stands that function once in a long while.
He said: “This Isolo Road project was started by Governor Fashola many years ago. Of course, he left office without completing the project. His predecessor Akinwunmi Ambode completed the project. But the streetlights are not working as they should. Most times, it is only the stretch from the police station under the Iyana Isolo Bridge, up to Oye Roundabout that comes on.
“The rest are just there. So it is important that we let the governor know that these streetlights are not working as they should so that he will do something about the situation.”
Kolade, a resident in Gbagada said that the erected street lights within the area only worked for some few months before returning the area back to darkness.
“It is so sad that the Lagos State Government has failed to prioritize certain things that should be considered very important, especially when it concerns the safety of the people.
“The street lights were erected some months back, it worked for some period of time and then the whole place got back to its usual darkness. This is not good at all. There should be an element of maintenance in order to keep these street lights functioning.”
Not many will argue that in most cases, the atrocities being perpetrated by robbers and kidnappers are done in the dark. Why then is the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration not doing enough to rectify this identified root cause?
The attitude of the powers that be in giving credence to the allegations in some quarters that “untouchables” got contracts for maintenance of street lights and supply of diesel used for alternative electricity to power the poles remain worrisome to residents.
In August 2019, when the cabinet was sworn in, Sanwo-Olu told his commissioners and special advisers to “be prepared to pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, and support or oppose whomever, in order to accomplish our grand ambition of building one of the great cities of the 21st century.”
The governor described Lagos as “a beacon of social, commercial and political excellence for the rest of our dear nation”. But residents say the governor should be reminded that Lagos is becoming a laughingstock due to the uncertainty from dusk to dawn.
People step out in the morning and are scared to be outside from late evening due to the activities of criminals. Phones get stolen, bags are snatched, cars are broken into, ‘one chance’ operators now bolder, yet lights are off!
Lamented Festus Ajayi, a resident of Badore: “When my phone and laptop were snatched some weeks ago under the Ajah bridge around 10p.m, the place was dark”. Hundreds of other victims have lost valuables in similar circumstances since thieves are bolder in and around pitch-black environments.
Should street lights be a topical issue in a state making huge money monthly and pride itself as a State of Excellence? The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) established that Lagos recorded N204.51billion Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) in the first half of 2020.
Within the same period, according to the NBS, the IGR for 36 states and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was N612.87 billion. Therefore, Lagos generated one-third of the total interior revenue realized in Nigeria!
Sanwo-Olu confirmed the blueprint for a new Lagos and the Development Plan (2012 to 2025) is still relevant “as strategic reference materials for a systematic implementation of medium and long-term policies”. If the plan of action did not make provision for adequate and effective illumination of roads and streets, now is the time to include.
The current leadership mapped out an agenda summarized in the acronym T.H.E.M.E.S. – Traffic Management and Transportation; Health and Environment; Education and Technology; Making Lagos a 21st Century Economy; Entertainment and Tourism; Security and Governance.
Lagosians have therefore expressed reservations and told the government that the subject matter is important to the realization and success of the “six pillars”; and that comparisons are being made with previous administrations in terms of infrastructure development.
Thousands of Nigerians and foreigners visit Lagos every week. If the street lights are not working, will local and international investors be convinced that Lagos is a place to commit funds?
Critics are of the view that citizens are struggling to cope with the current economic, personal and national challenges in the country, hence, their lives are properties that must be protected and secured. A major step in this direction, they opined, is for Governor Sanwo-Olu and his administration to up Lagos now. “The people are not only taking notes, the books of history have a place for everyone”, Ajayi lamented.
Ajayi continues: “I don’t think it should be a big deal for the governor to do this since the immediate past governor lit up the state to the delight of the citizens. Sanwo-Olu should go and study how former governor Ambode did it and save us the stress of going back home everyday in darkness”.
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