Development is the masterpiece of a well organised society.
Where blueprint for effective infrastructure fails, edifice always become a shadow of itself.
A Chicago based Nigerian shared his perspective on #LekkiFlooding. Kindly relax and read below.
They are having problem because the entire peninsula was developed in isolation by individual rich man/woman
Nigerians believe that technology is a product they can just throw money at and buy. It is not, it's a culture they must live
Here is the story of average Nigerians.
In the fifties, when my Dad moved to Lagos in search of greener pastures. The destination them was Agege, cheap housing and community lifestyle. Thatch roof building are common in the area.
After some years and during independence era, those that made few money felt Agege no longer fit their social status. Too many hold up, rowdy scene..etc Instead of them to communally solve the social problems, they moved to Surulere (New Lagos).
That's where the cream de la cream congregate. Even the middle class of Ido, Yaba and Ebute Meta came to New Lagos as a status upgrade.
The traffic and rowdy scene they left behind came to western avenue and Surulere in general to meet them.
The rich people of that time felt they have to move somewhere else.
They sandfilled Oso-Osa (VI). They moved
VI was 100% residential, military generals became omo onile. Disgruntled rich people left mainland and came to VI
Few years later, some of them died, those with two wives had their nice compound separated by fence.. semi detach start surfacing. Some sold their for commercial activities. The quiet residential estate became boom town and all the problems they left behind at Surulere came to their door step.
They decided to move again, they left VI for Lekki
Admiralty way only had building on one side, the other was water view. Soon the problem they left behind came there. The other side was built. Commercial activities came to residential area. Not it take one hour to drive 4 miles during rush hour.
The entire Lekki became a mess, they want to move again. The next destination is Eko Atlantic city. The problems they are leaving behind is already waiting for them there.
Instead of them to stay behind, develop engineering and social solutions to their problems, they are running away from it. Problems are like shadow, you can't run away from it. You solve it by having lights
Average Nigerians think society problem is not their problem as long as they can have money to fix themselves alone. They forget that theirs is just a reflection of the problem.
You don't fix shadow by providing light to One side, it will just change direction. You fix shadow by providing light to everywhere, therefore no darkness for shadow to thrive.
Until We start thinking about solving society problems, solving individual problems will be an effort in futility.
The so called rich among us, those that steal our commonwealth can't even enjoy it. It look like an enjoyment only in the face of the poor.
The insecurity is affecting them, lack of electricity is affecting them. They can't even open their gate or live in a house without prison wall.
They can't travel anyhow. They are scared of hanging out with their people. They are scared of people coming to beg for help. They are scared of witches and wizards.
They are scared of every problems they created.
They can't get to church or mosque early because they want to avoid conversation. They run out of church before the end of service to avoid conversation. How do they enjoy life by running away from people around them?
The way forward >>>>
The way out is simple. We need to start thinking communal when seeking solutions. We need to get rid of our selfish skin.
We need to bring government back to local. Let every village, town, city, borough, parish, county or whatever division we wanna use govern themselves
Let them develop their own building code, town planing structure and govern themselves the way they like.
That is when development will become a way of life.
People will have sense of ownership.
Written by Adetomiwa FFA
#Lokko
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