THIS IS LAGOS

Why Do We Cheat In Everything We Do?

2009-11-02T05:01:00.000-08:00

The story was everywhere before the competition
started, 18 players dropped from Nigeria under 17
team because they failed MRI test.

A lot of us hailed the innovation because it will
certainly put somethings right. Remember, players like
Luis Figo of Portugal and Mutiu Adepoju played in the
same competition but Figo played active football for
years after Mutiu retired.

The lesson here is that we always end up cheating our-
selves thinking we are being smart.

Despite the MRI machine test, report during the weekend
showed that the captain of the present golden eaglets
was 18 years 7 years ago.

The revelation came from a former Nigeria international
Adokie Amesiamaka. He said the captain was a player in his
academy {The youth team of sharks football club}
and he was 18 years old seven years ago.

Down the years when other players that featured in this
tournament continue playing for 15 years, our players
would have long retired and we will be wondering why we
can't get players for the senior national team.

The attitude of cheating is not only in football or sports
in general, it has eaten into our every aspect of life.

Tribute To Gani Fawehinmi: You Need A Dictionary

2009-09-16T09:37:00.000-07:00

Hon Patrick Obahiagbon's (Nigeria’s House of Representatives)
:Tribute to Gani fawehinmi.

If you follow political events in Nigeria especially
the National assembly{Lower House} Hon patrick Obahiagon's
name will not be strange to you. But If you don't, just read
this. His tribute to Gani.

Hope you won't end up with headache or bite your tongue
after reading this.{ I have Iodine}

"The grand initiation of Chief Gani Fawehinmi has
since brought me emotional laceration and thrown
me into a state of utter catalepsy. This was a man
who inured himself in the aqua of self abnegation
and immolation just to give justice to the down-trodden.

Can there be another GANI in Nigeria’s legal firmament?
I dare say i have my doubts. Chief Gani Fawehinmi was
simply inimitable, puritanically committed, inscrutably
remonstrative, ideologically transcendental, quixotically
cosmopolitan and a ready conveyor-belt of legal tomahawks
which he intrepidly deployed in his cascading fulminations
against our philistine military and political class.

His transition is not just the fall of an Iroko but indeed
the grand initiation of an iconic legal salamander.
We only hope that we didactically learn herefrom that
it’s not so much our sybaritic life styles that matters
more than the quality of service we render whilst we
sojourn on this earth plane.

How Much Is Your Kidney , Child or Wife Worth?

2009-07-16T07:13:00.000-07:00

There is an adage in Yoruba{Western Nigeria},
i will try as much as i can to do a translation.
It goes does "Ti o bani ti e po, wari ti eni ti
oju ti e lo". Translations
If you complain of how bad your situation is, you will
see cases worst than yours}.

This can aptly described a news report i saw earlier in
the day on my way to Lagos island, the shanties on the
lagoon and the living conditions of people got me worried
but it all disappeared when i saw a news item.

Read The Story Below And Understand

SARGODA, Pakistan (CNN) -- Mohammed Iqbal said
he has been told by his landlord to pay up on
debts and is left with a choice facing others in
this impoverished corner of Pakistan: Sell your
children or a kidney.

For the 50-year-old Iqbal, there is only one option.
Despite a law passed in late 2007 banning transplants
for money, he has decided to sell his kidney and has
already been for pre-operation tests. The sale will
net him between $1,100 and $1,600.

"What's incredible here is the law that bans the operation
he's going to go through came into place in 2007," said CNN's
Nic Robertson. "He's still able to go to a doctor, the doctors
given him advice, that's what he has to do under law... He's
going to make money out of it 100,000-150,000 rupees, and that
is absolutely illegal. Yet, in just a few days, he's expecting
to sell his kidney."

Iqbal was not alone in facing this difficult decision. Others in
Pakistan's rural heartland have opted to sell their kidneys.

One of them was Rab Nawas, who was deep in debt about a year ago
to his landlord after borrowing money to pay for his wedding and
to cover medical bills for his wife and six children. He, too,
faced the choice: sell his children, his wife or a kidney.

"I am helpless. Should I sell my children? Should I go sell my
children? So, it's better I sell my kidney. I had to return the
money," said Nawas, who now bears a foot-long scar that wraps
around from his back to his belly and is too weak to work the
same hours he could before.

People bearing the tell-tale scar of an organ removal in the
villages around the farm where Nawas works are not hard to find.
At one point, there were about 2,000 transplants a year --
with 1,500 of them going to what the government said were
so-called "transplant tourists."

The 2007 law was aimed at ending Pakistan's dubious status as
one of the world's leading organ bazaars. Nawas sold his kidney
after the law was passed and said the procedure was performed at
the Rawalpindi Kidney Center in the northern city of Rawalpindi.

When he went to the Rawalpindi center, after CNN asked him to
show where the procedure was done, he said a doctor told him
they did not have a record of his operation because they destroy
such records when a patient leaves.

The Rawalpindi clinic -- which prior to the law was a leading
user of purchased kidneys -- told CNN that it abides by the law
and does not get involved in deals between kidney donors and
recipients.

"Standing there it's hard for me to fully understand the courage
it took for him to make the journey. In this country, he has few
rights, and even less security," said CNN's Robertson.

Statistics
10%-20% kidneys originates from Pakistan
Kidney is sold for $200,000
Agents gets up to $50,000
Donor gets between $1,000-$2,000
Kidney is in high in U.S, Europe, UAE, Israel

In any condition thank God and hope for the best.

Customer Service - Lesson From A Lagos Bus Conductor

2009-07-09T03:35:00.000-07:00

People living outside Lagos state
does not know how "lucky" they are,
issues like traffic jam and high cost
of transportation is strange to them.

Despite the fact that we pay through
our nose to get to destinations, the condition
of the various means of transportation is
nothing to write home about. {Thank God for BRT}

Its bad enough that we have to sit in traffic
for hours, we also have to cope with the the
rudeness of drivers of commercial buses and
their conductors.

The reputation of these people {commercial drivers
and conductors} is so bad that when the Lagos state
government came up with BRT a lot of us Lagosians
want more more of such buses {Though many of the
BRT staffs are gradually degenerating in their act}.

It's a common site for find conductor abusing
passengers or even fighting them. Customer service
is the last thing in their mind. As far as they are
concern, they are doing you a great favor.

Surprise is the word when you see a conductor showing
his passenger customer service. See the picture below.

Even our so called blue chip companies like banks,
telecommunication etc will not do more than this.

Three gbosa for this conductor's act.

25 Official Manual For Driving In Lagos.

2009-07-06T11:58:00.000-07:00

Too funny not to pass on-enjoy!

1. When in doubt, accelerate!

2. Be prepared to ram anything stopping you wearing uniform in Lagos
(police, traffic warden,FRSC, Kai brigade, fire brigade, VIO, lastma,
lamata, laswa, even lawma sef)

3. If you get caught by any chance, DO NOT allow them to enter your car,
if they happen to get in DO NOT drive from that spot (veer off traffic &
settle 5hun), and if they don’t agree, form calling your uncle who is in
the army (believe me it always works), never follow them to ANY sort of
office except you wanna pay X10

4. Never give police or VIO your original particulars (whether expired or
up to date)

5. Danfo drivers believe they are immortal. NEVER yield to the temptation
to teach them otherwise.

6. Okada riders have a pact with suicide, avoid them like a plague

7. Avoid BRT buses in all ramifications, they have NO brakes

8. Taxi cabs (oko asewo) should always have the right of way, all of them
have been driving in Lagos for 25yrs.

9. Never, ever, stop for a pedestrian unless he flings himself under the
wheels of your car.

10. The first parking space you see will be the last parking space you
see. Grab it. Survival of the fittest you may say!

11. Learn to swerve abruptly. In Lagos , potholes (and sometimes car-holes)
are put in key locations to test drivers’ reflexes and shock absorbers,( I
saw one man fishing in one of the potholes last week).

12. Always Horn when taking off, when slowing down, when overtaking,
when they are overtaking you, when someone else horns at you,
when others are horning and you dont know why (its good manners).
when playing along to a beat on the radio...the list is endless....

13. Never get in the way of a car that needs extensive bodywork, except
you want to spend your whole Saturday @ the panel beater’s place.

14. Morning rush-hours are equivalent to Lagos grand prix (who gets to the
junction first)

15. There is no such thing as a short-cut during rush-hour traffic in
Lagos . Everybody might be inclined to take that ’short-cut’.

16. When asking for directions, always ask at least 3 people. Lagosians
ALWAYS claim to know every inch of the city – even areas they’ve never been
to.

17. Use extreme caution when pulling into service lanes. Service lanes are
not for breaking down the traffic, but for speeding, especially during rush
hour.

18. Never use directional signals, since they only confound and distract
other Lagos drivers, who are not used to them.

19. Similarly, never attempt to give hand signals. Lagos drivers, unused
to such courtesies, will think you are making obscene gestures to them.
This could be very bad for you in Lagos .

20. Hazard lights (popularly called “double pointer”) is not, (as commonly
supposed) used to indicate a hazard. It is a warning to you that he is a
bonafide Lagos driver, he’s headed ’straight’ and as such, will not stop
under any circumstance. Take him extremely seriously especially if he backs
it up with a continuous blast from his “horn”.

21. At any given time, do not stand on the zebra crossing expecting
traffic to yield to you, or else you will have to explain to the on coming
traffic whether you look like a zebra.

22. Speed limits are arbitrary figures posted only to make you feel
guilty.

23. Remember that the goal of ev
2. ery driver is to get there first by
whatever means necessary.

24. In Las Gidi every spot is a potential bus stop. FRSC and LASTMA know
that too. It is in their constitution.

25. Above all, keep moving. Even with a flat tire!!!

Good luck, as you expeditiously navigate through Lagos and hustle and
bustle.

Expensive "Shit"

2009-05-20T15:48:00.000-07:00

The above phrase is not originally mine
it belongs to the Afro beat legend Fela
Anikulapo Kuti.

The phrase came to fur days ago when the
officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement
Agency arrested a man for smuggling hard drug.

The suspect, Nweke chibueze was arrested at
the weekend on his way to board a KLM flight
leaving for Amsterdam.

He was subsequently detained and placed under
observation when he tested for positive for
drug ingestion at the screening center point

According to the NDLEA, the man has excreted
82 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.4 kilogrammes
with an estimated street value of N13 million.

Death Of LASTMA Officer:Lesson For All

2009-05-12T08:50:00.000-07:00

When the Tinubu administration introduced LASTMA
{Lagos state traffic management authority}, it was
to manage the chaotic traffic situation in Lagos.

As it always happen to any good intended policy,
Nigerians have a way of turning it upside down
for their selfish interest.

Its a pity to say the least what happened today at
ojuelegba when a LASTMA official lost his life.

Anybody who is frequent around Ojuelegba knows there
are couple of road constructions going on around the
area {kudos to Governor Fashola}.

A commercial bus who because of the construction
stopped to drop a passenger where the LASTMA officer
must have frowned at took off in order to escape arrest
and in a bid to arrest the bus his life was cut short.

Eye witness account has it that the heavy duty machine
carrying a slab was at work when LASTMA officer was
running after the commercial bus. The red flag alert
which normally signals danger was up and everybody
stayed away from the caterpillar but the LASTMA officer
was not aware of the danger. He ran into the heavy duty
machine and died on the spot.

One is not condoning the attitude of the commercial
driver but it should be noted that there are better
ways to handle such situation. Personally i have
witnessed a situation where police officer and
LASTMA officer were dragging the steering wheel
with the driver of a fully loaded commercial bus
popularly called molue.

If not for selfish motive, situations like this could
be avoided. All the law enforcement officer needs to
do is get the registration number of the vehicle
and this will safe life of the driver, passengers,
the law officer and other road users.

What is your advise to other law officer to avoid
situations like this.

Police man arrest senior police officer for driving against traffic.

2009-01-23T08:27:00.000-08:00

There are 2 interpretations of the same law, the interpretation for the common man and the one for the rich, influential and powerful.

These could be best understood if you live in Nigeria where people that steals or are alleged to have stolen cars, mobile phones, purse, bikes etc are paraded by the police in front of the camera and on the pages of news papers. On the other hand, people in public office who evidence shows that the kind of wealth they find themselves during and after public office can not be tied to their salaries are allowed to roam the street and flaunt such ill gotten wealth.

A popular saying goes does "everyday for the thief and one day for the house owner". This saying aptly described what happened in Opebi Lagos
on 23/01/09.

A senior mobile officer was driving against the traffic along Oregun Opebi link road when another senior police officer stopped him.I am sure he will not have believed there is anybody with such effrontery to call him to order after all he is the "law "

People waited and were thinking this will be one of the usual esprit the corp kind of situation but alas it was not.

I later got to know that the man that arrested the police officer{s} is actually Mr Odumosu {i don't know his rank in the police}. His action was not at all surprising because of his antecedent when he headed the environmental task force during the last administration in Lagos state.

Swiftly after blocking the officer's car driving against the traffic he called his men, though it took some time before they got to the scene.
All the appeal by the erring officer fell on deaf ears as he just stood looking at them.

Trust Lagosians especially okada {bike riders}, we were all waiting for the outcome of the situation. We did not have to wait too long as the enforcement team arrived like S.W.A.T and arrested the officers like a common criminal.

Shout of jubilation was in the air and the people considered it a victory for the average man who the police will not spare if found in such situation.

I could not get the kind of photo shot i wanted because the police around were watching one them actually pointed a gun at me to stop taking pictures.

This will go along way to tell people in authority especially law enforcement agencies that there is somebody watching.

This is new Lagos and we have a lawyer in the helm of affairs.
Eko oni baje o {Lagos will not go bad}

Another Police Victim

2009-01-21T07:35:00.000-08:00

The responsibility of police in any society is to protect law and order.
This means one thing, the life of every individual must be protected.

It is disturbing when people whom the police are suppose to protect turns
to be their number one enemy. There are many incidence of police brutality
and accidental discharge, another one happened yesterday in Ikotun a suburb
of Lagos.

The news came in yesterday that a commercial driver popularly known as "Danfo"
was shut to death for refusing to stop after the police waved him down for driving
against traffic {one way}.

One is not trying to justify the action of the commercial driver but killing him is
definitely not the punishment for his offense.

Its high time the police authority come down really hard on their men and repose the
confidence in people the the police is truly "our friends"

Fuel Scarcity Hits Lagos

2008-12-19T09:31:00.000-08:00

Date line Lagos, location fadeyi, date 17/12/2008, time 5.34pm.
Leaving work for home after an eventful day and thinking of the
holiday coming ahead and how to spend it.

Alas i saw the queue at the gas station, i said to myself not again.
The initial thought was that the gas station are hoarding the commodity
due to the impending holiday or the rumor of cut in pump price.

It was not till i got home that the picture became clear. The tanker
drivers are on strike because of "harassment from traffics officials"
to be specifics Lagos state traffic management agency{LASTMA}.

This is not the first time the tanker drivers will embark on such action.
It happened couple of times during the last governor and the present
governor has had his own share of the Lagos state tanker drivers action.

What puzzle one is the selfishness of the tanker drivers, it is obvious
they do this because the important of gas can not be undervalued in our
economy. It is our backbone.

Though i understand the overzealous of the LASTMA officials but the
tanker driver took it too far.

Trust the Lagos "smart boys" by the early hours of this morning the
street urchins popularly known as "AREA BOYS" have taken over. The
major roads like ikorodu was littered by young men mostly without shirt
and a ten litter gallon of fuel hawking it.

One can not imagine the chaos at the few gas stations where the commodity
is available. So many cars waiting to buy fuel and the man hours wasted.

The commuters are worst hit, a friend that came to check on me in office
paid 200% more than the normal fare. Having to pay high transport fare is
one thing, the availability is another challenge.

The good news is that i send this post i just heard in the news that the
strike has been called off. What a relief.

It my wish and of many Lagosians that all the parties involved will reach
a mid point of agreement to avoid such ugly situation again.

Lagos stand still for Arsenal the Giant Killer

2008-12-01T02:39:00.000-08:00

Date line was Lagos and to be specific opebi.
I woke up that morning feeling that whatever will be will be {i am an Arsenal fan}, this was mainly because of Arsenal recent form in the the league.

Watching the match in the viewing center near my house is a no no thing for me because of the rival that exist between the two clubs pitched against each other. I do not want to be caught up in the fight that could break out between die hard supporters of Arsenal Chelsea.

So i left for a more predictable viewing center where i sat next to my friend who is by the way a Manchester united fan.

The match went on with Arsenal a goal down courtesy an own goal by Djorou. My friend told me Arsenal will win the match but i didn't agree with him, his prediction came true at the end. Chelsea 1-Arsenal 2.

The joy of Arsenal fans was unlimited it was as if the league has been won. The Dj started blasting the popular stand up for the champion song and the party began.

Even the okada riders were pulling a lot of stunt with their bike, a lot of traffic, you could see young men bare chested because almost all of them pull off their shirt.

The effect of the match spilled to monday morning, i saw couple of people in Arsenal jersey.
How i wish i have one.

Lagos and the American Dream

2008-11-29T07:57:00.002-08:00

Going! going!! gone!!!.
The clock is ticking and time is running out, Lagosians are really trying to catch in the opportunity that comes once in a year.

The visit of a man to the cybercafe i was this weekend reminded me of the rush and urgency of people who are interested in the American Visa lottery.
A typical Lagosian attitude, always waiting till the last minutes before we get things done. We are so much used to running.

The buzz about the visa lottery can not be imagined in Lagos. Almost everybody i know wants to travel to America. It is even made worse because somebody that knows somebody has a winner who has relocated to the united states.

I for one knows couple of people have relocated courtesy the lottery. A neighbour of mine won the lottery and moved his entire family 4 years ago, this really got me under a lot of pressure because an aunt of mine will not let me rest until i do same for her.

The other day at a very busy place in Lagos called ikeja, the public address system was so loud that its almost deafening. The man kept screaming on top of his voice for people to come and register with him, the way he went about it sounds as if its rocket science to fill the forms and as if without him one can not win the visa lottery.
He is not alone in this, i have seen several television advert and listen to couple of radio jingles about the visa lottery.

How i wish we have a country that things are a lot easier , rushing to relocate to America will be minimized.

Lagos hospitality for the German President.

2008-11-12T01:35:00.000-08:00

The German president visit to Lagos state have come and gone but the scenes that played out will remain in the memory of the German president Horst Koehler, his wife Eva Luise and the entourage.

I was on Allen Avenue one of the commercial center in Lagos
when i noticed the un-usual traffic situation. Its not that traffic
is new on the axis or Lagos as a whole but the uneasiness i
noticed in people on bikes who are suppose to have easier
movement that buses caught my attention.

The reason for the un-usual traffic got clearer to me when i saw
all manner of law enforcement officials{we have a lot of them in Lagos
in weeks to come iwill be introducing them to you}, it was then i
realized somebody of note is around the axis.

The people were rumbling as the waiting became unbearable and
alas here comes the entourage.

The people were wavering, the bikes doing all sorts of stunts, German and
Nigerian flags were hung on all poles were wavering, the law enforcement
officials were at attention. I even overheard a superior officer charging
at his junior officer to stand well and remove his hand from his pocket.
It was really a sight to be hold.

Nigeria and Germany have one thing in common that i know and that is the
movement of capital. Bonn used to be the capital of old west Germany before
the unification, while calabar was the capital of Nigeria then it was moved to
Lagos but now the capital city is Abuja.

Despite the movement of capital Lagos still remains the nerve center of Nigeria.

We have shown the German Nigerian hospitality, i wish the Germans will
do same when our president visits.

Hope for Lagosians?

2008-11-10T03:28:00.000-08:00

Sitting in my office and watching the presentation made by the governor of lagos state Babatunde Raji Fashola presentation to the state house of assembly gives me an assurance that better days are really coming to the state.

If his words are anything to go bye then his initials BRF{better rewarding future} is really apt. He talked about the plans of his administration combating issues like employment, environment, flood control, road construction, security, education, health etc.

It is interesting to say the least that most his manifestos promises are coming to past. The rate at which roads are being constructed gives one a good idea of what the years ahead holds for lagosians.

Employment is another issue he is takling-head-on and this could be linked to the numbers of people who are under the Lagos state government pay role be it directly or indirectly.

Now to the big one TRAFFIC, if you ask any lagosian what they dread most in lagos i am sure you will get not less than 70% telling you its traffic. This is a feature that separates Lagos from any other city in the Nigeria.

The various plans of the government has shown that traffic, will reduced to it's bearest minimum. Signs of this are visible with the introduction of BRT {bus rapid transit} and the planned introduction of order complimenting transport services i.e water, rail etc.

If only other states in the country can emulate the visionary leadership and vigour of the Lagos governor{do i here you say what else do you expect from a SAN{senior advocate of Nigeria} }, then we will have a cause to smile.

Another Closure

2008-10-19T05:25:00.001-07:00

Lagosians are getting ready for another road closure, this time
around it will last for four months.
Though we are just recovering from the closure of the 3rd main
land bridge which lasted for two months.
This closure is by the Lagos state government unlike the last one
which was by the federal government.
Though there have been several reaction to this news,one thing remain
and this is the fact that if Lagosians wants good network of roads it
will come will some temporary pains and discomfort.
I listened to all the aides of the Lagos state government who are
saddled with the responsibility of making sure that the traffic situation
during the closure is not as terrible as people like me envisaged. They
all sounded as if they know what they are doing.

One Happy Family

2008-09-11T08:42:00.000-07:00

The family is a unit that must be kept together all the time no matter the distance.

A lot of challenges has made some parent neglect their responsibilities.
Meeting parental obligations Nigeria and Lagos is a daunting challenge.

The father and mother very early in the morning and will not be back till
later in the day,so what the children does while they are away is alien to
them.

A lot of organization realized that a happy family is the bed rock of any good economy because it is the smallest unit.

Brands associate with programmes that brings the family together rather than apart.Such brand is maltina.

The 2008 edition of the maltina dance all show is very interesting to say the least,one needs to see the joy that permeates the whole of the family and even viewers.Its indeed a good show.

Other brand should emulate this and sponsor activities that brings the family together.

Sanity in Lagos

2008-09-09T06:34:00.000-07:00

Its a hot afternoon,business is gradually winding down.
The vehicular traffic on the jibowu end of ikorodu is still high due to the on going maintenance on the third mainland bridge.

I can see from my office the commotion going on outside.
Street traders are running away from Lagos state KAI{kick against indiscipline}officials.

This type of scene is now a common site in Lagos,the government is hell bent on driving street traders away from the major roads.

The question that comes to mind is that how did we degenerate to this state of lawlessness?

I wish this people will find a better way of making their daily living because this government is going all out.