Lagos: More than Just a State (III)
In assessment, endlessly suffering the belief that Lagos is a tribal enclave, without reflective space for novel thinking, circa bears very little berries. As the screeching eagle economy, amongst the continent’s capital cities, Lagos’ is brazenly big in association. The CoE parallels with most of the countries in Africa, effortlessly drowning them. Consequently, its sight is roundly beyond their centre cities. Lagos is to Africa what the state of California (United States) is to the rest of the globe, especially in the perspective of gross domestic products (GDP). Conversely, in terms of key fundamentals (policies, plans, vision, infrastructure, multiculturalism etc), the CoE reflects so much less than the American state. More important, this cavity should represent ample space for richly embracing fresh and more vision-driven philosophy.
With GDP in excess of $150billion, the CoE’s economy is larger than over 90 per cent of African state’ economies, positioning the city-states in a group of its own membership. To picture this in context is to view and understand it more clearly. The Lagos economy is much larger than some of the continent’s high-branded countries such as Kenya, Cameroon, Ghana, Uganda, Mauritius etc., fading only behind Africa’s top-four (Nigeria, South Africa, Egypt and Algeria) markets. Just on the half-line of its stay, the Ambode administration has won many spurs, with plaudits steadily growing, with noteworthy numbers coming from the opposition steads. Lagos has had many great governors. Ambode’s effervescence is yet seen. So far, he has shown clear sense of direction and leadership. Ambode has told us, in simple (Yoruba and English) words, he aspires to take Lagos state to the third slot. We believe him. Because there are so many strong and visible signs. Therefore, as residents, let’s not adopt a doubting ‘siddon look’ attitude rather we should willingly support him, give life to his dream for a better Lagos. For the bread of the CoE is for the butter of over 20million inhabitants.
As the eagle population, Lagos is intimidatingly huge. With population in excess of 20 million inhabitants, the CoE enjoys the most populous city status on the continent. Cairo, perhaps, presents some threats. It seems the North African city will always represent that, as Lagos doesn’t seem willing to relent. Fascinatingly, the city of Lagos has more inhabitants than over 85 per cent of African countries. For instance, Gambia’s population is suggested at ‘only’ two million. The size, crowdedness and denseness (given its landmass) of its population give birth to the hustle, the flurry, and the excitements of Lagos. Although, amongst the population, the transaction rate is high but the CoE can do a lot more with the right policies, plans and visions. Perhaps, Lagos should learn to sleep less, socialise more, work a lot more and, transact a lot much more, boosting its fortune on this index. For instance, Lagos can decide to celebrate its rising cosmopolitan- ism/ multiculturalism by hosting tribal food festival during the morning hours of the last Saturday of the month. The list of ideas isn’t short.
Beginning from the pre-independence era, the CoE has continuously witnessed some sustained dilution in the provincial and mono-cultural nature of its population to one of multicultural and cosmopolitan mix. Lagos, as a state, is friendly, welcoming and tolerating. Varied views are so easily accommodated. Given the rapid rise in the number of peoples from other parts of the world, Lagos is enjoying a marked rise on its racial diversity grade. When we are different, Lagosians understand it presents vast opportunities especially when viewed rightly. There is, nonetheless, a clear and mounting need for improved deliberateness in policymaking and visioning to reflect the strengthening swing eastward.
As a chicken, the CoE’s per capita income is both insipidly and uninspiringly low, reflecting weak productivity per man. Lagos can do a lot more and more. And, more. The openings are abundant. The uninformed will be less stressed to contend in favour of the city, citing the depressing impact of its population. Such argument is quite slight. Instead, the government should embrace the huge prospects presented by these undesirable but pleading gaps for job and wealth creation and GDP expansion. For illustration, the Lagos’ night economy is one of the poorest and the most uncultivated amongst its ‘peers’ in the world. The CoE slumbers quite loudly, snoring deafeningly unlike many other capital cities, such as London, Berlin, Paris etc. For example, Berlin, with less than four million inhabitants, enjoys a very active nightlife – seven nights a week, keeping its economy agog all through the dusk hours. Same as London as well as Paris. When over one million working-age adults snooze for seven hours throughout the night, it is more than seven million hours lost to productivity, impacting growth unwholesomely growth every night. Our capacity for imaginative thinking may be impaired if we attempt at the yearly figures. Unexplored opportunities abound aplenty along the Airport-OjuelegbaVictoria Island and Mile II-Ojo axes. There are many others. Let’s unearth ways to explore and cultivate them.
It’s time Lagos halted listening to the many vision-shrinking, poisoned voices about the seat of government, which all appear to have some ‘wisely’ feel about them. Clasping and conforming to their yearnings only deteriorate and degrade the state. The CoE must free itself from the knotting grip of the many ‘small’ men with insatiably big stomachs around the dinner table. Unfortunately for the state, reasoned voices are few and are always weak in their ears. Lagos can and should re-invent itself by re-leaning its ladder on a different visionary wall, leaving it resting on that fence for the duration of its envisioned time. Preceding this must be a change of belief. Its leaders must believe that the CoE’s extant figures, though massive, are still a lot leaner than life. For example, it’s so much withering referring to Lagos as Nigeria’s commercial capital. With over 20million people, why not Africa’s? If the CoE isn’t yet there, then, the movement in that bearing should of great earnestness begin.
In addition, a broader view for the Centre of Excellence will mean varied things to many of its residents. To some, it will mean more inclusiveness and, to others, bigger opportunities and yet, to another group, a larger and more forward-looking competitive arena. The vision is easy to identify because Lagos ought to aspire to be Africa’s best across all the files whilst racing away from the backwardgazing intra-Nigeria comparison. As the CoE strides to be amongst some of the world’s top cities, it should give no quarter. If any city on the continent can dream of it, Lagos is that. As athletes, we are imparted quite clearly that whenever the whistle blasts, it’s time to explode. And, for Lagos, the toot has sounded. Let’s go, Lagos, for the continent’s challenge is trumpeting. Lagos must pluck off its dull chicken-feathers and, quickly robe itself in the eagle’s elegant fluffs. My Lagos is a country. What’s your Lagos?
See you next week.