By Odoh Diego Okenyodo
Whoever knows the head of the Vegetation Control Unit at the Federal Capital Territory Administration
(FCDA) should nudge him (or her) because there is work to be done around the traffic lights. I don’t
mean working at night to ward off the boys that lurk in the shadows to politely ask motorists for their
phones with slaps when lights turn red. I want to draw Oga’s attention to a number of lights being
obstructed by trees branches that need trimming.
See, Abuja and some state capitals installed the traffic signal countdown timers (TSCT) to make us know
when to accelerate through traffic lights, and we have been feeling good about it. At least, it provides us
an opportunity to know how to argue with policemen when we are caught running the red, since the
policemen often conceal themselves after the traffic lights and cannot see the TSCT. But, now, as the
rains get more intense, steady and destructive, some trees are tired and are stretching their limbs too
far. They need to be cut to size. I am not saying this because I am bald and in need of company in our
roads; it’s just honest advice to an administration that appears to be waking from slumber. At least,
Abuja is getting some street lights after almost 8 years of darkness.
Countdown timers on traffic lights are cool features of modern road systems because studies have
shown that the decisions motorists make are much healthier and safer for everyone when they have an
idea how long they will have to wait. Of course, this is assuming that many people are rational beings,
and we know many are not. But this is the finding of a study, so I can hazard a guess that the countdown
timers serve as visual installers of an imaginary rationality app in the brains of drivers. Rationality, a very
scarce commodity in Nigeria, is a reason I do not even write much to advice government officials or
persons connected to them.
Ordinarily, one would expect that a government official should think about the purpose of their
positions in service of the people, but we seem to be so far gone in the wrong direction that the object
of every occupant of an office is self-aggrandisement. (This expression ‘aggrandisement’ always sounds
criminal or shady to me, which is why I chose it in this instance.) Many officials of government put
themselves first and the reasons they were recruited comes 7th of last or whatever, so it is difficult to
think anything good would come out of advising them. Afterall, reading is nor more valued by the
society, so who would read this anyway? But I will write nonetheless.
Tending the vegetation within the city is a relevant and important task in public safety and security
which would not be in doubt. Overgrown vegetation such as found around the National Stadium and the
areas near the National Mosque have helped criminals in undertaking their unwholesome acts and
evading detection. One always empathises with the law enforcement agents who are easily blamed by
victims and members of the public when crimes occur. Environments that are well lit and free of
unnecessary plant growth would discourage nefarious activities by men of the underworld. (Feminists, I
hope you protest the use of men in this case, because crime is not the exclusive preserve of men!)
That argument on the side of security is also relevant in public safety. When trees are too close to the
road, branches can fall off onto the road and obsruct traffic and possibly cause injury or death if they
happen during bad storm. Falling trees may drag electricity lines with them and electrocute people
(though thankfully we do not have regular electricity and the National Grid is always collapsing due to
greed. Story for another day.) Further to this is the challenge of chaotic behaviours when the countdown
timers are obstructed and motorists have excuse to violate the relative sanity of Abuja roads.
When I make reference to the relative sanity of Abuja roads, many of you would sneer at me. In Sokoto
and Minna, I see people drive around like the traffic lights are invisible. In those cities, where vehicular
traffic is heavy, policemen stand and spread out their arms like football goalkeepers ready for a penalty
shootout, and dive away when the light turns amber to avoid being run over. Kano, Kaduna, Bauchi,
Maiduguri, Port Harcourt, Lagos, and Makurdi tend seem to have gotten their acts right in this respect.
But, I may have digressed… All I am asking is that someone needs to help talk to the head of the
Vegetation Control Unit that a lot still needs to be done about vegetation in the Federal Capital City,
especially to make driving a lot smoother during the rainy season that we are in.
