Gridlock: SPN blames Lagos govt

The Socialist Party of Nigeria (SPN) says the constant gridlock experienced by the people of Lagos is as a result of failure of governance.

According to the party, the frustrating gridlock should be blamed on the state government’s failure to invest in viable integrated transport system.

A statement signed by Mr. Rufus Olusesan and Mr. M. K. Shoyombo, chairman and publicity secretary of the Lagos State chapter of the party respectively, said Lagos was synonymous with chaos, “considering the fact that one can spend half of the day on traffic.”

Making reference to the recent findings of the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) for 2018, which ranked Lagos as the third worst city in the world to live in, the party stated further: “This sums up the very poor state of infrastructure vis-à-vis gridlock, lack of potable water, lack of urban planning etc. For most people, Lagos is synonymous with chaos considering the fact that one can spend half of the day in traffic. Hence, the Lagos State chapter of the Socialist Party of Nigeria (SPN) blames the traffic crisis on the failure of the Lagos State governments in investing in viable integrated transport system.

“If Lagos is working because of very few big projects, it is mere propaganda of politicians in government. Over 90% of community roads are in terrible state, suitable housing is luxury and exclusive for the rich few, potable water is non-existent, education and healthcare are in bad state.

“Also is the fact that limited infrastructural developments in the state are not commensurate with huge resources the state generates on a monthly basis.”

Lagos traffic

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It also condemned the demolition of various communities and markets by the Ambode-led government in the name of development, describing it as a ploy “to pave way for private developers/land grabbers.”

The party, through the statement also challenged the state government over the reservation of lanes for BRT buses, saying it was “crude exploitation.”

“The SPN strongly holds that it is crude exploitation to reserve one-third of the road’s space as BRT lane for buses that transport less than five per cent of commuters, a policy that worsens the traffic situation. BRT buses are owned by private companies through the franchise arrangement and giving out one-third of the public space to few buses is not only a misplaced priority, it is guaranteeing profit of an extreme few, an undue favoritism and apartheid. Lagos state chapter of SPN condemns this kind of bias policy.”

As a way forward, the party opined: “Lagos State with huge population can only efficiently move people and goods from one place to another if different means of transportation is integrated such as sea, road and railway. More impact will be made if the BRT lanes are rail tracks and with railway that links different parts of Lagos, traffic congestion will be brought to the barest minimum.”

It went further to describe as “worrisome the fact that public funds are spent by the Lagos State government without transparency,” saying it was condemnable for the government to run the state like a secret cult wherein the breakdown of budget and cost of projects are kept out of public knowledge and scrutiny.

The party therefore called on the government to embark on integrated transport system that coordinates road, railway and sea transportation and to open its books for public probe for the public to know how resources are expended.

Furthermore, it said adequate compensation should be paid to those whose properties were demolished by government.