By Bose Adelaja

This is a new Lagos as things are no longer what they used to be in the state. A good example is the queue culture taking place at bus stands as against what obtained in the past where commuters clash when boarding commercial buses.

Through a week long programme, a group, The Spirit of Lagos, SoL, has stepped up its campaign against anti-social activities that breed disorderliness across the state, urging the people to think Lagos, think of good things. The non-political and non-religious organisation embarked on a state-wide road tour which saw its ambassadors traversing parks, markets, major bus stops and terminals, admonishing residents to imbibe the right attitudes.

The Spirit of Lagos, SoL, during one of the campaigns

Places visited include Mushin Market, Ojodu Berger, Ijesha Bus Stop, Pako-Aguda, Festac, Ajegunle, Oke Ira in Ogba, Anthony, Badagry, Epe and Okokomaiko where the group’s Project Director, Olaniyi Omotoso, who led other ambassadors, defied the scotching sun to distribute leaflets and sensitise the public.

At Anthony Village, a community leader, Chief Omotola Ariyo, said the programme will restore the past glory of Lagos.

In a chat with Sunday Vanguard, Omotoso said the programme was part of the four cardinal points of the association. “What we are doing is in line with civic responsibility, which is one of the four cardinal points of this association. We are out to urge Lagosians to change those attitudes that negate the spirit of Lagos. We remind them that it is wrong for them to dispose off their wastes arbitrarily; dash across the roads where there are pedestrian bridges; evade taxes and so on. And as the elections are around the corner, they must collect their Permanent Voters Cards PVCs and vote according to their conscience and not spurred by parochial sentiments. The people of Lagos must be actively involved in the process of electing those who will be in positions of authority. It is part of their civic responsibility,” he explained.

Omotoso, who said the group had also preached attitudinal change through its ‘Change Your Thinking’ campaign, added that it has the sole objective of restoring the unique values that made Lagos a safe, just prosperous and place to inhabit.

The Project Director said that the value shared by Lagosians is love, adding that they love themselves, their surroundings and the state.