By Daniel Idonor
ABUJA— THE Federal Government, through its Works Minister, Alhaji Hassan Adamu Lawal, yesterday reacted to the deplorable state of federal roads in the country, in particular the Apapa-Oshodi expressway in Lagos, saying “we have to be careful.”
It was not clear who should be careful — the government, Nigerians who suffer daily, or the media who report the suffering of Nigerians — as the minister refused to talk to State House correspondents on the matter beyond a terse sentence: “I have discussed the matter with my boss (President), we have to be careful”.
Gridlock along Apapa-Oshodi Express road Lagos yesterday. Photo: Bunmi Azeez
Lawal who was sighted with a file containing yesterday’s edition of Vanguard newspaper before the weekly meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) began, refused to talk to State House Correspondents when approached on the grounds that he had no time; but requested that the reporters should see him later.
This he did twice until the FEC meeting ended. And when he eventually emerged from the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, venue of the FEC meeting , the minister who was not apparently ready to field questions from journalists said “I have discussed with my boss, we have to be careful”, a statement that did not make any meaning to reporters.
Asked to explain what he meant by “we have to be careful”, the minister failed to utter a word, as he walked out on the reporters.
Vanguard’s investigations however revealed that President Yar’Adua, following the various media reports on the poor state of federal roads in Lagos State, had repeatedly drawn the attention of the minister to the issue, asking that he comes up with a workable solution towards addressing the issue as it has become a major source of negative publicity to the government.
Standstill at Mile-2 toTincan, along Oshodi-Apapa expressway as a result of deep portholes occasioned by bad drainage system. Photo by Bunmi Azeez.
It was gathered that the Hassan Lawal, who has served as minister for five years, including three years under former President Olusegun Obasanjo, as Labour minister, and two years in the present government, could not come up with any solution.
Vanguard had reported that the Oshodi-Apapa expressway, owned by the Federal Government, has for many years been neglected resulting in its present state of decay.
Vanguard in the report said “one of the city’s main arteries, the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway which connects the Murtala Muhammed International Airport with two of the nation’s busiest seaports — Apapa Quays and Tin Can Island Port has failed at several locations.
“The worst points are on Tin Can Island itself, at Ibafon (Coconut Bus-stop to Sunrise), at Berger, and at the turn-off to Lagos-Badagry Expressway at Mile II, where motorists paddle their vehicles through flood.
“Other failed sections are at Rainbow Bus Stop, stretching forth towards Sanya for several hundred metres. This spot has particularly worsened the agonies of motorists in the last few days, with traffic backing up for many kilometres and throughout the day.
“It is also the scene of ghastly crashes as unsuspecting motorists speed into the craters at night. The other major failed section is at Itire (Berliet Bus Stop).”
To be frank, Nigeria as a country doesnt pratice Federalism as we claim, Nigeria is praticing Co-Federalism. Normally, ina Federal System of Government, the Central is supposed to be strong and effective, while the Units(States) are weak, and they depend on the Federal. While in the Co-federal system, the Central(Federal) is weak, while the Units(States) are strong. Because we all can see, that the Central which is supposed to be strong in a Federal System of Government is abviously very weak, and the units are strong. So why are we deceiving ourselves?
The problems that Nigeria is engulfed in today, didnt just come up now. It started decades ago, precisely in 1914, when Nigeria was amalgamated (Bringing Together of the Nothern & the Southern Nigeria, Southern Nigeria was divided into the colony of Nigeria including Lagos & Ebute Metta Town with a narrow strip from Dahomey Border to some 70 Miles, east of Lagos as by Order In Council. Sir F. Lurgard was apointed Governor- General.) With Rt. Hon. Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, P.C., GCFR who had a (Masters’ degree in Political Science and Anthropology from Lincoln and Pennsylvania Universities), and on the Other side we had Cheif. Obafemi Awolowo, leader of the banned Action Group and leader of the Yorubas of western Nigeria, and went on to obtain a Bachelor of Commerce degree in 1944,He was CO-founder of the Trade Union Congress Of Nigeria in 1943. The following year, he went to London to study law and founded the Egbe Omo Oduduwa, a Yoruba tribal society. After qualifying in 1947, he returned to Nigeria to set up legal practice and continued to work for the Egbe Omo Oduduwa. This two Heroes of our Motherland, made a terrible mistake the day they both signed the Amalgamation Document between the Norther Province & Southern Province, by given above 70% Nigeria’s Economy Benefit to the Notherners, while the rest Region was left to benefit from the other 30%. That was a FRAUD. So therefore we the SOUTHERNERS (Niger-Deltans) were Defrauded.
Funny enough, “we have to be careful” the minister is terribly CONFUSED. He’s concerned more about his salary & allowances, seminars, overseas trips, night meetings with wines and special dishes; perhaps with a SAMAPE to match & fat accounts home and abroad. Well, this our own country. Let’s pray and hope God Interven soon enough, or else Nigeria will be DOOMED.
Tell Yar’dua. I said So. Naija Delta Militant.
@Chika. I mean what I said..Unless we have true federalism- when each ethnic nationality manages their own social, political and economy lives- or we have regional or parliamentry system of government only a ‘detribalised’ leader like Obasanjo can rule Nigeria as its presently constituted or governed.
Compared with any leader that had ever ruled Nigeria in this jagajaga, silly federalism (not being practised anywhere else in the world, except Nigeria), Obasanjo’s achievements (no matter how little, people like you see it) are unparralled if you consider the situation of things before he came in 1999. And I am not saying this because I need a job from his farm, but as a concerned Nigerian
Sure we “have to be careful”.We only need to no who the “we” refers to! I think it’s the famous “Peter Principle” at work here.
My only questions are who are the ‘WE’ that have to be careful? What do ‘WE’ have to be careful about?
This is a totally unacceptable response to the real issues we face with ‘federal’ roads in this bonafide entry port and commercial centre of the country… Let’s not discuss the situation across the country here for now.
Mr. Minister, the floor is yours…
V!
what a shame. we have many unemployed graduates that even graduated with 1st class yet we leave them wander about the streets aimlessly frustrated but rather we went for someone that did not even see any 4 walls of a university to come and become a federal minister. honorable minister, pls try and go to school before you advertise your foolishness to the world.
It is only in NIGERIA that incompetency is rewarded with more appointments. How else can one explain Ministers and other Political appointees that have contributed immensely to the backwardness of this country and they still appear in the corridor of Nigeria Polity as if in a country as big as Nigeria these few illiterates (or is Educated Illiterates), greedy, Pathological Thieves are the only ones that can be made Minister.
Every day I keep praying for a Rawlings effect to save Nigerians from these our FOOLISH leaders.
What do you expect from a bunch of imbeciles (I don’t know what to use to better qualify them, because if they are normal human beings they were supposed to learn from their past mistakes but they keep (they will keep FAILING WITH PRIDE) behaving as if they have fish brain “fish brain is too big, it is Mosquito brain they have”)!
For a serving Minister with past experience (having failed in OBJ era) to be saying this shows the level of Nigeria development.
As for the likes of my brother, Tunde Salam who still believes that Obasanjo did so wonderfully well during his tenure of 8 years. Even if we had given Obasanjo or PDP 100 years to rule Nigeria, he had nothing to offer, Please Tunde Salam try and see beyond your NOSE by brother (All Obasanjo did in his 8 years was just ABRACADABRA – the more you look, the less you see), abi you dey look for job for Baba Iyabo farm? – All the problems Nigeria is in today had Obasanjo’s input before his 8 years and magnified after his 8 years.
My Good Brother, Dr Osagie, YOU ARE 100% CORRECT! Yar’adua cannot repair the road Nigeria’s main sea port that is the major gateway to the our economy because it is naturally located in Lagos, but he is planning of building a DRY PORT, as well as an International Airport in Katsina.
On a last note: The Minister is indirectly telling his ruling PDP members that they have to be careful or else sooner or later they will have more than MENDs to contend with, RAWLING’s Effect is around the corner!
hahahahaha.i say to nigeria.a country where ministers are appointed by family or friends in exchange for a gift in returns.what we expect when a bus driver is asked to drive a ariplane.do u expect other failure and wrong bpushing of buttons and finally failure.this funny we dont really have tought pressmen who can get questions out thier out or even do backgrioup research and investigation on all this so called “RULERS”.I pity naija alot.please thier lot help nigeria.
I want to sincerely agreed with the position of Adeniji Adekunle on this issue. In addition, I do not understand the kind of leaders this country have. You are made a minister of a particular ministry and you were asked a very simple question concerning your job responsibility and all you can say is “we have to be careful”. What a shame! That minister does not know his job responsibilities or do not understand what “governance” means. He should be booted out simple.
It is very sad to see the picture of nigeria roads in such a deplorable having been pride ourselves the giant of African . This is a country seling oil at $147 per barel at a point in time . What have this government acheived so far nothing expect promises . Maybe we will have good roads, electriciy, drinkable water ,corrupt free politians and good policing when the battle is lost and won .
Funny enough, “we have to be careful” the minister is terribly CONFUSED. He’s concerned more about his salary & allowances, seminars, overseas trips, night meetings with wines and special dishes; perhaps with a SAMAPE to match & fat accounts home and abroad. GOD DEY O !. Listen to such horrible comments from an appointed minister, WE HAVE TO BE CAREFULL, on what now OGA?, does that tally with what we asked ?. Sometimes i feel as if Yar’Adua is even afraid of relieving some non-performing office holders of their looking tired and unmerited appointments. DAN ISKAS KAWAI !, ALLAH YA ‘ISA.