National Theatre Loop 2 - After “SOMETIME last year, specifically in July, at about 7.30 pm, I heard distress call from under the Bridge close to the Nigeria Breweries Plc. I was not surprised because I knew “the boys” were at their nefarious act again. I was helpless as there was virtually nothing I could do about it, not being armed.
“About five minutes later, a young lady whose age could be between 20 and 21 emerged from the dark spot, sobbing profusely. On enquiry, she revealed how she had just been robbed of all her belongings including her mobile handsets and a huge sum of money. The visibly shocked victim was on her way to her place of abode at Eric Moore after the close of work before she ran into the hoodlums who have built a permanent nest to rob unsuspecting passersby, mostly in the night and early hours of the day.”
This was how Mr. Akpan David, a private security officer attached to one of the nearby companies in Abebe Village, Iganmu, Apapa Local Government Area narrated one of his ugly experiences in the area. He explained that robbery among other activities has become the order of the day in the area as miscreants, who have turned under the bridges and loops around National Arts Theatre, Orile Iganmu, and environs into their den, unleash terror on residents and passersby on a regular basis.
National Theatrr Loop 2 - Before The miscreants Vanguard Metro gathered, are able to operate because of the total darkness that always pervades the entire area at night. They (miscreants) hide under the darkness to perpetrate their evil and no one dares to challenge them because they are usually armed with dangerous weapons. “There are no street lights, no police presence, and the area is often deserted, hence the susceptibility of victims falling into their hands,” David added.
The initial well-laid plan for the entire area has gradually become degraded with all forms of environmental nuisances by their illegal occupants. The scenario is similar to the popular Oshodi experience sequel to the dislodgment of miscreants by the State government.
Determined to confront these nuisances headlong especially in view of the mega-city plan and as part of its greening policy, the Babatunde Fashola administration through the Ministry of the Environment has continued to embark on the landscaping and beautification of projects to achieve a state-wide improvement in the aesthetics of the state and the sustenance of greening of the environment.
The governor, in his quest to restore the lost glories and beauty of Lagos State, granted approvals for the landscaping and beautification of loops as well as other degraded open spaces. The various efforts of the state government to bequeath a beautiful and serene environment that is conducive to good living standards are already manifesting by the day. Two years ago, the state government executed about 30 beautification and landscaping projects across the state.
Some of the reclamation, beautification and greening projects slated for this year include: Ram Market at Abebe Village Iganmu, where ram sellers hitherto occupied for years, open space A to D under the bridge at Abebe Village Iganmu, and Loop 1, II and III, all located at Iganmu near the National Arts Theatre, Iganm. The project is scheduled to spread over to Ijora-Olopa axis. Some of these ongoing projects are at various stages of execution with visible transformation of the corridor in rapid progress.
It will be recalled that this axis had suffered serious degeneration, degradation and unquantified abuse in the last decade. It is in order to arrest this degeneration that the present administration embarked on this massive regeneration aimed at transforming the axis to green areas, recreation parks and gardens for relaxation.
Some of the projects which are already yielding results include: Gani Fawenhimi Freedom Park and MKO Park both at Ojota, Funsho Williams Park at Costain Round About, Iganmu, Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way landscaping and beautification, Olowopopo Way landscaping at Alausa, Ikeja, among numerous others across the state.
According to the Commissioner for the Environment, Mr Tunji Bello, the state is making encouraging progress in its efforts to free Lagos from all forms of environmental misbehaviour and degradation. He said the mission is to foster a clean, healthy, sustainable environment for the well being of citizenry through the application of best practices in environment management among others.
During one of the many inspection of on-going upgrading of environmental projects in the state, Bello, therefore, charged community leaders, Community Development associations, CDAs, residents to protect public infrastructure as they are being provided through tax payers’ money.
The state government is also complementing the regeneration of loops, open spaces and greenery projects with massive upgrading of canals, water channels with the aim of minimizing the devastating effects of flooding across the state.
One of the elders in Iganmu area, Alhaji Kassim Animashaun, who spoke with Vanguard Metro, praised the government for coming to the rescue which he said had been a source of worry to the residents and workers.
He expressed optimism that when the project is completed it will go a long way in restoring sanity as well as improved the aesthetic landscape of the area where their children and loved ones can relax.
“With the beauty and uniqueness of National Art Theatre, it will turn this place to a tourist centre for both young and old. Our problem in this part of the world is that we don’t find time to relax, that is why our young men are dying at very early stage. We hail Lagos state government” Animashaun stated.
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