By Yemi Olakitan
Urban basic services and urban management in Lagos were not “annus mirabilis” in 2022. From informal chats and social media posts to newspaper clippings, most megacity inhabitants are indignant, lamenting, and frustrated about the municipal government’s urban basic services and how they affect residents’ quality of life (QOL).
The city government provides statutory urban basic services to residents, including potable water, electricity, public parks, road infrastructure, and regular road network maintenance, waste disposal, health care, education, safety, security, public transport, traffic management, policing services, and environmental management (pollution control/abatement). These are managed by purpose-specific ministries, agencies, authorities, and parastatals. Some services can be contracted to a proven private sector provider.
The Federal Government provides policing, whereas the Lagos State Government provides the other services. Space limits us from listing them all. How well have designated institutions done their duties? Here are several reports and public comments. “Lagos is surrounded by water, yet there is none to drink,” (Akinbode Olufemi, Environmental Right Action). “Over 80% of Lagosians lack public water.” Lagos Water Politics. Urban management: “What have we achieved in the universal fundamentals of housing, health, sustenance, education, and urban infrastructure?” Lagos’s underperformance should disgrace city administrators, not inspire mythmaking.” (Abimbola Adelakun, The Punch, January 13, 2022, back page.) Waste management: “Lagos is a metropolis hooked on filth and garbage, held down with traffic and darkness.” (Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN, Nigerian Tribune, 11/1/2022) Traffic in Lagos wastes 75% of workers’ time. Traffic-related road rage is a major city issue.” Adaobi Egbunike, Global Voices, August 8, 2022). “The want for consistent electricity supply, is a distinguishing element of living in this city… where millions of Lagosians are energy poor. This affects the city greatly, not just economically.” (Gary Lai, City Monitor, 9/6/2022) “Every day, Lagosians suffer beneath crumbling roads riddled with crater-sized potholes and gullies.” Lagos’ roads are awful, irritating, and frustrating. (Davidson Iriekpen, January 2, 2023).
This article describes a few critical urban services that the LASG should develop for the megacity’s mass population. Services that improve city liveability are picked.
As the saying goes, “water is life.” Despite this, the Lagos State Government has struggled to provide sustainable drinking water to the city’s massive population.
Since 1986, the Lagos State Water Corporation (LSWC) has failed to provide drinkable water to megacity residents. The 2016 report “Lagos water crisis: Alternative roadmap for the water sector” stated, “The two major water treatment plants in Lagos, Iju and Adiyan, provide 70% of Lagos’ water, but both are in disrepair, and neither is running at the highest capacity. Only 10% of houses and 30% of people have community standpipes. (2016). The Corporation’s water supply is much behind demand. The Corporation supplies 210.5 million gallons per day but demands 750 million, leaving a shortage of almost 500 million.
The LSWC’s legendary underperformance is due to many factors, including dilapidated water production equipment, inadequate budgetary allocation, an unmotivated workforce, a cavalier attitude toward routine maintenance, and the need to expand the water system to meet the megacity’s exponential population growth.
The Alexander Pumping Station on Alexander Road, Ikoyi, which feeds Parkview Estate and the surrounding regions with potable water, has a lot of obsolete and overworked equipment that needed frequent maintenance or replacement. Putting water in a basket, the overhead water reservoir tank needs repair to stop leaks. Two clear water pumps are overworked. Replace their control panels. Transfer pumps are another essential water production tool.
The Alexander pumping station would need more boreholes for untreated water before purification. Dosing chemical pumps and all filters need replacement and recharge. Regular standby generator maintenance ensures electricity supply.
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Ikoyi Water pumping station follows suit. Due to considerable degradation, the station frequently breaks down and has epileptic water supply. The station cannot deliver water for a month. Pumping occurs intermittently. Other megacity mini-water stations have similar problems.
The Parkview-Ikoyi axis will have regular water supply if the LSWC pays attention to the small details of water production equipment maintenance and obsolete equipment overhaul at the two main water pumping stations in Ikoyi. Residents and LSWC will benefit. The Corporation’s revenue will rise as the former pays for water. The LSWC has a goldmine but refuses to use it.
Thus, we urge the LASG to provide drinking water to all parts of the megacity without delay. Health need water. Typhoid, dysentery, and cholera can spread without drinking and sanitation water. “You never know the worth of water until the taps run dry,” stated Benjamin Franklin, 1785-1788 US President. Life requires water.”
The annual global liveability index includes potable water supply. Lagos megacity has failed to rank well in the yearly global survey for five years (2017-2022). This should worry the city government. “Universal access to safe drinking water requires significant investment underpinned by strong governmental institutions,” according to WHO, World Bank, and UNICEF. The LASG must heed the trio’s advice.
The LASG cannot ignore water as a vital public service. It must choose a Lagos water crisis solution. Uninterrupted water is essential. The government should not debate privatising the water supply. The government was urged against that. Not a “recommended practise.” Nigeria’s energy privatisation is a study of the Federal Government’s disastrous attempt.
Traffic control
Motorists and pedestrians in Lagos suffer from traffic congestion. Travel time and destination can make a 30-minute drive take three hours. Avoid 7 am-11 am and 4 pm-7 pm. Locals call this a traffic gridlock. Lagos traffic can start before 7 a.m. and last until midnight on bad days. This writer was victimised by street robbers on the Lagos-Epe Expressway around dusk.
If the LASG has the political will, Lagos’ traffic can be handled. Traffic management and control strategies include attitudinal change among motorists, intensive enlightenment campaign, rigid enforcement of existing traffic regulations, massive maintenance of city roads, many of which are pothole-ridden, retraining of LASTMA officials, and prompt repairs of city traffic lights. Most Lagos Island traffic signals “park up” in my experience (not functioning).
The government agency that maintains traffic lights ignores numerous strategically placed and visible ones. This carelessness is inexcusable. The responsible party should be held accountable for this neglect of duty.
Danfo and other commercial vehicle drivers in Lagos must be stopped from driving recklessly and inconsiderately. They cause chaos on Carter Bridge daily by driving against oncoming traffic as police or LASTMA officials stand akimbo. Most corrupt traffic control employees pamper them, making them above reproach. These unlawful drivers should be severely punished in a lawful city. Motorists must follow the law. LASG must safeguard law-abiding motorists from dangerous driving.
