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Navigating the Chaos: Addressing the Challenges of Lekki’s Busy Road by Dennis Isong

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Over the years, Lekki has been blessed with exponential growth and development. However, this has brought about a significant challenge – the congestion and gridlock that plague the area’s main thoroughfare.

The Lekki-Epe Expressway, a crucial artery connecting the Lekki Peninsula to the rest of Lagos, has become a daily nightmare for commuters, grappling with endless traffic jams and frustrating delays.

At the heart of this issue lies a confluence of factors that have contributed to the road’s increasing strain.

The explosive growth in residential and commercial development along the corridor has led to a dramatic increase in the number of vehicles plying the route, far exceeding the road’s original design capacity. Additionally, the lack of efficient public transportation options has forced more people to rely on private cars, further exacerbating the problem.

Compounding the situation is the inadequate infrastructure to accommodate the growing traffic flow.

The Lekki-Epe Expressway, initially constructed as a dual carriageway, has struggled to keep pace with the escalating demand. Bottlenecks, such as the absence of sufficient entry and exit points, as well as the lack of well-planned intersections and interchanges, have created choke points that grind traffic to a halt during peak hours.

The consequences of this situation are far-reaching, impacting both the economic and social fabric of the Lekki community. Businesses in the area have reported significant losses due to the disruption in supply chains and the difficulty in accessing their premises.

Employees face the daunting prospect of spending hours commuting, sacrificing precious time that could be spent with their families or pursuing personal endeavors. The environmental impact is also significant, with idling vehicles contributing to increased air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

To address these challenges and pave the way for a more sustainable and efficient transportation system, a multifaceted approach is required. Firstly, the Lagos State Government must prioritize the expansion and upgrade of the Lekki-Epe Expressway. This would involve the construction of additional lanes, the implementation of well-designed interchanges, and the optimization of entry and exit points.

By increasing the road’s capacity, the flow of traffic can be better managed, reducing the frequency and duration of gridlocks.

Simultaneously, the government should invest in the development of a robust public transportation network. The introduction of a dedicated bus rapid transit (BRT) system along the Lekki-Epe Corridor, complemented by a network of feeder routes, would provide a reliable and efficient alternative to private vehicles. This would not only alleviate the burden on the road infrastructure but also promote a more environmentally-friendly mode of transportation.

To encourage the use of public transport, the government should consider implementing a comprehensive parking management strategy. This could include the introduction of paid parking zones, the establishment of park-and-ride facilities, and the enforcement of strict regulations on on-street parking.

By making it less convenient and more costly to use private vehicles, commuters would be incentivized to opt for the more efficient and sustainable public transportation options.

Furthermore, the government should explore the implementation of intelligent transportation systems (ITS) to better manage the flow of traffic. This could include the installation of electronic toll collection systems, the implementation of advanced traffic signal coordination, and the deployment of real-time traffic monitoring and information dissemination platforms.

By leveraging technology, the efficiency of the road network can be significantly improved, reducing travel times and minimizing the impact of congestion.

In addition to infrastructure and policy interventions, the government should also engage in targeted public awareness campaigns to promote sustainable mobility practices. This could involve educating the public on the benefits of public transportation, carpooling, and the use of non-motorized modes of transport, such as cycling and walking.

By fostering a shift in the public’s mindset, the demand for private vehicle usage can be gradually reduced, leading to a more sustainable transportation ecosystem.

To ensure the success of these initiatives, the Lagos State Government must also collaborate with key stakeholders, including urban planners, transportation experts, and community representatives.

This collaborative approach will help to ensure that the proposed solutions are tailored to the specific needs and challenges of the Lekki community, and that they are implemented in a manner that balances the interests of all affected parties.

Moreover, the government should explore innovative financing mechanisms to fund the necessary infrastructure upgrades and public transportation initiatives.

This could include the utilization of public-private partnerships, the introduction of congestion pricing schemes, and the allocation of dedicated funding from the state and federal budgets.

By securing the necessary financial resources, the government can ensure the long-term sustainability and effectiveness of the proposed solutions.

As the Lekki community continues to grow and evolve, the issue of road congestion and traffic management will only become more pressing. However, with a comprehensive and strategic approach, the challenges can be transformed into opportunities for the development of a modern, efficient, and sustainable transportation system.

By addressing the root causes of the problem and implementing a holistic set of solutions, the Lekki-Epe Expressway can be transformed into a model of urban mobility, serving as a blueprint for other rapidly growing cities in Nigeria and beyond.

▪︎For personalized assistance with your property needs, contact Dennis Isong, a top Lagos realtor specializing in helping Nigerians in the diaspora own property stress-free.

Contact: +2348164741041

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2027: Hurdles Before The Coalition, By Emeka Monye

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The 2027 presidential election in Nigeria is shaping up to be a crucial contest between the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and a potential coalition of opposition parties. Several hurdles need to be overcome for the opposition coalition to succeed.

The political class is already preparing for this quadrennial event, holding consultations, meetings, negotiations, among other contending factors.

The ruling party, The All Progressive Congress, appears to be the most beautiful bride at the moment as members of other opposition parties have been courting the party, in a gale of defections, in what many political pundits and analysts described as a political tsunami.

While the APC seems to be enjoying the foray of defections by other party members into their fold, the main opposition party, The Peoples Democractic Party, PDP, appears to have lost its steam in the run of play.

The once dominant party is plagued by a series of internal crises which many political analysts believe will be the party’s undoings.

The once largest political party in Africa and oldest in Nigeria since it was created in 1998 by some elder statesmen, is now a shadow of itself, living in past glory and trying to win its way back to national prominence.

Already, some past and present leaders of the party have been consulting, negotiating, discussing, even though they have agreed yet, all in a bit to wrestle power from the stronghold of the Bola Tinubu-Led APC at the centre.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Former Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 General elections, Peter Obi, former Governor of Kaduna state, Nasir El-Rufai, among other bigwigs, are believed to be in talks with one another of how to build a possible coalition to edge the ruling APC in the power game.

Although, no concrete decision has been reached by the major actors, their negotiations and their inability to reach a consensus remain critical factors that might endanger the birth of a viable coalition.

Factors like who will step down for who as the realignment begins, remains a major issue, taking into consideration their individual experiences, exposures, skills, knowledge, capacities and egos.

Except this issue is resolved in the run up to the 2027 presidential polls, it will be a mirage for them to unseat the Tinubu-Led government.

While the running party is busy strategizing ahead of the 2027 presidential polls, the other parties are still grappling with their internal crisis.

Some analysts believe that Atiku’s past experience as Vice President under the regime of Olusegun Obasanjo, might give him an edge, while others think Peter Obi’s popularity in the South could bring a geographical balance to the ticket.

For them to form a strong force against the APC, then, they must find common platform and agree on a candidate, which might be challenging given their different ideologies and interest.

Other factors which some political analysts have highlighted that may pose as a stumbling block agents the coalition is the timing. The time between and 2027 is quite a short time for the coalition to gather and make the desired impact.

This of course, is no brainer. Any merger of alliance must be arranged within a reasonable timeframe to be effective. Also, the coalition will have to convince the Nigerian voting public of its purpose and demonstrate a clear vision for the country’s future, particularly in the area of addressing the economic misfortunes of majority of the people. Another hurdle that would be staring the coalition in the face remains the issue of power rotation.

While the south believe it’s that turn to complete their second term in 2027, the north on the other hand argue that they have been short-changed in the governance structure of the country – in terms of number of years – since the return of democracy in 1999.

Out of the total 26 years, the north has ruled for 11 years, with the south 15 years. The issue remains a key factor that would affect the coalition to birth.

The coalition, must as a matter of urgency, decency decide on this unwritten agreement about rotating power between the North and the South, potentially present a southern for one term to allow the South to complete its own two terms for the office of the president.

In conclusion, the coalition, if it really wants to win power in 2027, must make a compelling case for itself, highlighting its unique strengths and vision, rather than just criticizing the incumbent.

It needs to differentiate itself and show Nigerians that it has a better alternative.

Emeka Monye Is A Journalist And Works With ARISE NEWS.

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Mauritania’s Tah succeeds Adesina as 9th AfDB President

Tah was elected to succeed Adesina after rounds of voting conducted by the AfDB Board of Governors during the Bank’s Annual Meetings held in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

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Mauritania’s Sidi Ould Tah has been elected as the ninth president of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB) as Nigeria’s Akinwumi Adesina prepares to bow out.

The Bank announced his election on its website on Thursday.

Adesina’s 10-year tenure will end this year and Tah is expected to assume office on September 1, 2025.

Tah was elected to succeed Adesina after rounds of voting conducted by the AfDB Board of Governors during the Bank’s Annual Meetings held in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

The Board comprises finance ministers and central bank governors from the Bank’s 81 member countries.

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JUST IN: Appeal Court Affirms Okphebholo as Edo Governor

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‎‎The Court of Appeal in Abuja has affirmed Monday Okphebholo as duly elected in the September 21, 2024 Edo Governorship polls, as it affirms the decision of the Tribunal which on April 2 dismissed the petition of Asue Ighodalo of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for lacking merit. ‎‎

A three-man panel of the Appeal court, presided over by Justice Mohamed Danjuma, restated the position of the Tribunal which held that the PDP failed to provide sufficient and credible evidence to substantiate their claims of electoral malpractice, irregularities, and non-compliance with the Electoral Act.‎‎

The panel held that the PDP failed to provide sufficient and credible evidence to substantiate their claims of electoral malpractice, irregularities, and non-compliance with the Electoral Act. ‎‎

The Appellate Court agrees with the Tribunal that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) Machines which the appellants tendered were merely ‘dumped’ as they weren’t demonstrated to prove overvoting.

‎‎This the Court held after it earlier expunged the 133 BVAS machines admitted in evidence at the Tribunal stage of the Governorship tussle. ‎‎

Ighodalo and the PDP were further faulted by the Appellate Court for failing to tender the voter register to prove overvoting.

The Court further adds that BVAS extract doesn’t constitute items with which to prove overvoting. ‎‎It says the documents tendered by the PDP at the Tribunal did not, on their own, prove overvoting, non-holding or cancellation of elections at the polling units.

‎‎To further puncture the case of the PDP, the panel says the 19 witnesses called by the appellants during the Tribunal hearing didn’t help their case.

It says the majority of them did not witness what they spoke about. Moreso, it adds they were insufficient to prove irregularities in polling stations at over 4,000 locations.

‎‎Nigeria’s electoral body, INEC, had declared Okpebholo the winner with 291,667 votes, against Asue Ighodalo of the PDP who garnered 247,274 votes.

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