'lola

Digital media, mobile content & mobile VAS professional + fotography doyen. I Ơ̴̴͡.̮Ơ̴̴̴͡ d world thru ma lens

['lola @beamaloud]

@NigeriaStories When will all this stop? When will the nation's interest be prioritized over individual interest? Which way Nigeria 😞

['Fisayo Soyombo @fisayosoyombo]

For @fijnigeria, I smuggled 100 bags of rice from Benin Republic into Nigeria.

I found out Customs bosses took bribes from smugglers, then betrayed their colleagues by updating smugglers on the itinerary of patrol officers.

Undercover as a Smuggler https://t.co/iqCZwWdJCa

[Tope Kolade Fasua @topefasua]

I rode the LAGOS METRO - again. See what happened. Feedback for Gov @jidesanwoolu and LAMATA MD, @AbimbolaAkinajo

LAMATA AND THE LAGOS METRO – NEED FOR SOME IMPROVEMENTS

So, over the weekend, I had two weddings to attend in Lagos. One was in Badagry. My friend since 1987, Bayo Quadri, had his gig there. And the other was at Tafawa Balewa Square. My friend since 1993 when we worked at Citizens Bank, Alan Udi, was giving his daughter’s hand in marriage. My challenge was how to get to Badagry and then return to TBS in time to meet the second wedding. My friend Sola Alabi suggested I should meet him up at Gowon Estate so that we could drive to Badagry as it was closer. I had been contemplating taking a ferry or boat. So, I took the Gowon Estate option.

From a travelogue perspective, I have to commend the Lagos State government for the explosion of infrastructure in the state. I first started encountering the new bridges around Ikeja/Dopemu as the Lagride I booked from Victoria Island drove to Gowon Estate. A lot of places have transformed in Lagos State. Even when we eventually took off for Badagry, passing through the Lasu/Iba Road and on to Okokomaiko I saw that the road had been expanded both ways and there were bridges all over the place. Trade Fair, Alakija, LASU area and so on. The numbers of people living in that axis continues to be a challenge for the government, I suppose. These folks dump refuse indiscriminately in the road median and even the rail tracks that had been built in anticipation of the oncoming metro from Mile 2. Both sides of the road had been converted into thriving markets. Surely, it is not an easy task to run Lagos.

I managed to see BQ and take a few pictures. I hadn’t seen this guy since 1991 as he’s now based in the United States. Not long after we headed back towards TBS. After some heavy traffic at the LASU area because of road construction, we did some calculations and it was evident that if I was to meet Alan’s event, I needed to hop off at Mile 2 Metro Station and take the train to Marina. TBS would be nearby. I had folded my Agbada and I had no problems mingling with the crowd. That was what I did. But that is where my story starts. At the point where I had to hop off for the train, there was no provision for pedestrian drop off. I had to jump down a ledge that was taller than 1 metre to go and climb the stairs to the station. The entire pedestrian bridge was littered with beggars and all sorts of people in different states of delirium. Even when I got out of Sola’s car to carry my things in the back, two menacing area boys came very near as if they wanted to snatch something. But I warded them off, with Sola screaming at them from the front seat. They said they wanted to know if I had something to carry.

INSIDE THE TERMINAL
This is where the story that concerns me starts. I already bought a Cowry Card in my first usage of this metro some months ago. I didn’t have to join the queue of those who wish to buy or top up their card. So, I asked one of the staff if I could tap in my card and proceed to the platform. No! was the answer. Why not? I asked. They claimed that was just the rule. I found that odd. But again, in Nigeria, we must make an issue out of everything right?

Then there was nowhere to sit. I didn’t want to sit but there was another guy who sat on one of the three black chairs near the turnstiles. One staff member came and challenged him for sitting there, pointing at the far corner at a crude wooden bench which was their idea of where customers waiting to tap in could sit. They even claimed they were the ones who provided that bench, as LAMATA made no provision for passenger seats, and the three black office chairs were theirs. The guy who sat on one got very mad and a huge shouting match occurred especially when one of the rail security men came and threatened to beat him up. I was aghast. This was Lagos and everybody went around with anger. By this time, the staff had moved in two out of three black chairs back into their office. I watched the melee, took a few videos and made a note to escalate this to the Governor of Lagos State and the headship of LAMATA.

Then they let us go down to the platform, perhaps to douse the tension. When I went downstairs, I found that most of the train riders were clustered to the closer side of the platform (as if there was only one door on the train). So, I decided to walk further down the platform in the hope that I could sit in a less crowded cabin. Then I was challenged by another security man, who directed me – rather brusquely – to go back and stay where people were clustered. I asked him why? He said I should know that the tracks were electrified. I replied that I wasn’t jumping on the tracks. He kept mumbling some stuff aggressively.

The train arrived. One of the staff approached me and I complained to her that it was bad training for some of her colleagues to argue with customers, to the point of creating a big scene. I also engaged the security man who escalated the shouting match by threatening his own client, on how to behave properly. They appeared contrite at this point and apologized. They also said they had asked LAMATA to please provide chairs for customers, but this has not happened. I lectured them at length, tipped them and the train departed.

ISSUES
1. We must not allow this metro project go down the way other projects have – especially with the querulous Nigerian behavior in terminals and even platform. So, far, this metro system has been well-maintained but there are some aspects that need finetuning
2. There is no reason where there will be no chairs for passengers to sit in the terminal while they wait to tap in, and even on the platforms. We aren’t talking about loose chairs but heavy benches screwed to the ground.
3. The fact that we are providing a service for Nigerians – even if it’s a novel development in Nigeria – does not mean that we should dehumanize them. People who are weak, inform, physically challenged, should be able to use the services without pain. The leadership of LAMATA knows better than this as many of them came from abroad. Indeed, these new great achievements in infrastructure are meant to RE-HUMANIZE Nigerians, not otherwise.
4. If it is a big deal to provide iron chairs for customers to sit on in the terminal and on platforms – especially at Mile 2 and Marina, LAMATA could get sponsors (like banks or telcos), who can handle these. Honestly, even I could, because we need to set standards and take care of the few remaining gaps around this service.
5. One of the remaining gaps is how there is no proper integration of the different transport services. Someone driving into a station needs to be well guided by signages. Even from inside the station terminal, there are no clear signs on where to go to catch a taxi. These issues may be why almost none of my friends who live in Lagos have ever tried to get into the metro even out of curiosity. Meanwhile, the metro is pristine and modern and well-taken-care-of.
6. The metro is not only for poor people. The middle class should also try it even though services are limited for now. I reckon that the Red Line will really explode usage. The airconditioning inside the train is something for all to look forward to. For many folks, that ride may be the most enjoyable thing they do in the course of their day. But without middle-class usage (those who have been abroad and seen how these things work), there will not be any suggestions about better management as I am doing here. There should be spaces for park-and-ride. I didn’t see anywhere someone could safely park their cars, go on the train, and come back to pick their car at Mile 2. This is a major error. And if this is there it should be advertised alongside other facilities in the stations.
7. The best way of maintaining a facility is also when those who provide it use it regularly. I am a government official, and I proudly used that facility in spite of the hiccups. In fact, the shouting match may not have occurred if they knew a government official was there. We need more usage by government service providers.
8. Customer service training and retraining is required for the staff else the service will become another one suffused by agberoism in a short while. I was shocked that a security man there didn’t see anything wrong in shouting down a customer. None of the workers there that day had been to any other country (even Egypt, Ethiopia, Morocco, South Africa or Kenya) where they have trains/metro to see how things work or hos people are meant to comport themselves in such facilities.
9. From the demeanor of the workers and the flare of anger displayed – by security man and even the other ladies who removed chair and started the shouting match – it seemed obvious that these staff need their salary increased. Perhaps they were reacting to the economic stress of the times.
10. LAMATA leadership should be more nimble and show more hands-on supervision, to attract people to these facilities. In that way, they may be able to charge a little bit more to cover some more of the cost. I understand that most train systems in the world run at a loss. So it must be really stressful for the management and staff. However, they are on to a new thing that totally transforms Lagos, and the minds of customers who use their service. In time, Lagos will be looking much cleaner and a lot more modern with these facilities. I recall discussing with Governor Sanwoolu about the need to have an interchange between the Blue and Red Line. Wow, that will be the day in Nigeria!
All the same I want to congratulate Governor Sanwoolu, and also Governor Fashola, who teed off the construction of this metro system. I also want to congratulate LAMATA leadership. And I hope they get back to me to fulfil my promise just in case it’s a huge challenge to get those chairs. Honestly, they’ve done incredibly well. The very last mile should not mess up everything. And they should please place big signs inside stations telling people to not shout. Any foreigners observing that fracas that day will have concluded that we are under-evolved as a specie of homo sapiens. Nigeria needs real change and it can come from developments like this.

And to my middle-class friends, honestly you have to try out these facilities. We are doing great things in Nigeria. Our metro is as neat and as comfortable as what you have in Dubai or Singapore. Certainly better than most of its peers in UK/EU. There are no rats running around and climbing on customers like they have in New York. And the security is very tight. No crazies trying funny things on the train. God bless Nigeria!

https://t.co/342n79NSNw

['lola @beamaloud]

@NigeriaStories Deservedly

['lola @beamaloud]

@Mazichimdi234 @_weyimi 10 million students 😮. What's ur source for this data?

[Odunayo Aimakhede @OdunnataSpzy]

I used to think MBAs don't attract or attract little funding in the US... A quick google search gave me some examples, please share within your cycle for people looking to do an MBA course>
Check the thread:

[pounds @AguUwakwe]

@JydeTron @_Omahr It's the peaceful https://t.co/PplBxgeYpC. funny how we now see surviving the @PoliceNG that should protect us as something to.b happy and thankful.for

[Arsenal @Arsenal]

💬 "Now let's put the team together, let's play together and let's see the team together because until now we haven't had the opportunity to see the team. Let's support them and let's be together."

🎙 Edu Gaspar

[Hadassah Aisenstark @HAisenstark]

Beautiful Selichot singing last night at the Great Synagogue in Jerusalem. According to Ashkenazi tradition, the Selichot poetry is recited on the Saturday evening before Rosh Hashanah.

['lola @beamaloud]

@Gidi_Traffic @KenyanTraffic 30

[FC Barcelona @FCBarcelona]

Unrepeatable 🐐

[Arsenal @Arsenal]

Nigeria 💚

[#PlayCodeGames @PlaycodeGames]

#Playcode's new #logo which captures the brand's #hero personality. What do you think??? #HeroinYou #GreatnessAwaits

[Matthew Pennycook MP @mtpennycook]

I'm deeply concerned by reports that Nigerian security forces yesterday opened fire on a crowd at the Lekki toll gate peacefully demonstrating against Special Anti-Robbery Squad brutality, extrajudicial executions and extortion. I will be writing to the Foreign Secretary #EndSARS

[Buffer @BufferMedia]

Freedom should not be something you have to deserve. It’s something you just naturally have. Something that no one can take away from you. Let’s celebrate Freedom to being YOU! #BeBold #BeYou #Nigeria #IndependenceDay

[Buffer @BufferMedia]

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Visit: https://t.co/4inwCnsJm3 to apply.
#Buffer #hiring #recruitment #careers #jobsinlagos

[Buffer @BufferMedia]

The deadline for the submission of CV and cover letter is Thursday 15th October, 2020 (12 midnight)

Visit: https://t.co/4inwCnsJm3 to apply.
#Buffer #hiring #recruitment #careers #jobsinlagos

[Buffer @BufferMedia]

If someone pants when solving a math, what would you call him? A pantomath😁 It's our CMO's birthday, we can't be calm. Full stack marketing guru, sales aficionado, brand management doyen, strategy plug & everything in-between software devops & design. He's our #BBNaija!

[Buffer @BufferMedia]

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