It's been said that if a pig is taken away from its sty, and given a thorough wash to get it clean, it will get back to its dirty state within a short time. The same must apply to taking the pig out to clean its sty, and returning the pig there: the sty will get dirty within a short time.
This analogy applies to the new Ikorodu-Lagos road, stretching from the Ikorodu roundabout to the foot of the Mile 12 bridge. It is not known when the road will be officially commissioned, since the construction company is still putting finishing touches to its work. However, illegal road users-stationary market men and women, hawkers, wheelbarrow pushers, mechanics- have assisted the Government in an unofficial commissioning of the road.
Heavily populated sections of the road at Ikorodu Garage, Agric bus stop and Mile 12 have been appropriated for uses that clearly violate the Lagos State traffic laws (laws which a top government official said are meant for initial voluntary compliance). At these three places, the wider median has been converted into bigger market places than existed before because of the availability of more "display" space. "Appropriate" spaces have been turned into parks for tricycle operators, commercial bikers and wheelbarrow pushers. BRT ticket booths have become mini-warehouses for storage of market wares, newspapers and magazines etc.
Mile 12 market now has a veritable extension at the foot of the bridge. Vegetable sellers, who used to hawk their wares in small baskets balanced in the crooks of their arms, now comfortably display their "market" on the wide median.
These illegal activities take their toll on the legal road users: motorists and pedestrians. At Mile 12, especially, motorists now take advantage of the slow traffic to buy vegetables through their car windows, thereby slowing traffic down even more due to their start-and-stop motions on the innermost lane of the road. Pedestrians have to carefully thread their way through the colony of small baskets of tomatoes and peppers to avoid squashing them and germinating the seed of possible ethnic clashes. They also have to hold on tightly to their personal possessions as they move among the throng of illegal buyers and sellers to avoid pickpockets and bag snatchers. These are actions that drain needed nervous energy.
There is news that the Mile 12 market will be moved to Parafa on the outskirts of Ikorodu. Questions are: Will the illegal road market at Ikorodu Garage be moved also to the same location? And what about the location at Parafa: has it been laid out with the necessary road infrastructure and other facilities for a functional and comfortable market? Will it not be the cause of another traffic gridlock on the getting-busier-by-the-day Ikorodu-Itoikin road?
May we find the direction to apply the enormous grey matter we use for looting and partying to proper urban planning!
AYODEJI BABATUNDE IGINLA
is a former Rector of Lagos State Polytechnic and Social Commentator.
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