ALIMOSHO Local Government Area has the potential to be the pride of Lagos, even if there are currently clear favourites such as Eti-Osa and Ikeja. Although a handful of local government areas have had a headstart in terms of infrastructural development and a saturation of private international investments, Alimosho can take advantage of its own strengths to make it a suitable location for such sustainable development too.
There is a list of disasters that is plaguing the state in such a way that Lagos is losing its place amongst the safest cities on the continent. The month of November started with the notable debacle of the 21-storey Ikoyi building in which about 46 people died, then two more buildings collapsed, and an industrial gas explosion accident claimed five lives in Papa Ajao, Mushin.
As if each of these misfortunes are spooned out of a cauldron of calamities, we can remember the Baruwa gas explosion, Ijora-Badia tank farm fire, Iddo warehouse disaster, and the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway oil tanker explosion as some of the notable 2021 accidents.
Interestingly, Alimosho cannot claim a sizeable share of the statewide calamities in recent times. Whether it is by chance or not, this local government area has stayed relatively safe for its residents. Or, has it?
There are lesser reports of road accidents in Alimosho, but this is not indicative of law-abiding road users. Neither is the absence of a cholera epidemic reflective of public hygiene and sanitation. It would be wise for Alimosho residents and their leaders to work against many negative symptoms before any eventually becomes one notable calamity.
The Local Government Chairman, Honourable Jelili Sulaimon, and his fellow executives at the LCDAs should be ready to get their hands dirty in order to bring sanity to Alimosho roads. Our roads are far from being serene, we have some of the most disorganised traffic flows in the state. It would make a lot of sense if the local authorities can show more concern to traffic on our roads.
Aside the traffic disarray, we have major sanitary challenges in Alimosho. The dump along LASU-Igando Road and the trash trucks lining Lanre bus stop are a point of reference but there are many other unhygienic locations in our LGA. We cannot make Alimosho safe and serene without making it clean first.
The only reason we still have an uninspiring reputation as an LGA in Lagos is the fact that we are yet to give tangible results with regards to livability. Yes, we are the largest local government area, but we remain overpopulated —crowded in some councils and dysfunctional in terms of infrastructural management.
Let us heal Alimosho. Let us start by cleaning our filthy environment, truly renovating dilapidated roads, smartly tackling traffic gridlock, and making life bearable for residents in every conceivable area. Alimosho can distinguish itself in these obvious ways and become a factor that helps Lagos cease from being ranked the second worst city to live in the world today.
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