BY CHIMA NWAFO
Perhaps, nothing tells the story of how well the political leadership has managed (or mis-mismanaged) Nigeria’s human and material endowment since independence better than the state of physical and social infrastructure in urban centres. The story is the same from the fairly new Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, former capital and economic nerve-centre, Lagos, old regional capitals as well as the post-independence state capitals. Yet, the elite are so emotional about colonialism that you sometimes wonder if America, Canada, Australia, Singapore, India, Indonesia, etc., were not once colonized. And we don’t seem to accept that there was one thing the colonial administrators did better, despite glaring evidences in urban planning, environmental sanitation, road maintenance, quality education, among others.
In the developed world, cities have always been drivers and incubators of innovation, industry, technology, entrepreneurship, and creativity. Towns and cities create prosperity, enhance social development and provide employment. That is why developmental experts aver that the battle for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will be won or lost in cities. The location and localization of industries in the defunct Eastern Region and the East old Imo State under Governor Sam Mbakwe attests to the above. Therefore, it cannot be disputed despite the fact that urbanization poses several sustainability challenges: housing, environment, infrastructure, basic services, food security, health, education, decent jobs, safety, etc. Yet, the opportunities are immense and unquantifiable. I must add, that most of the world’s cities that offer the foregoing critical tools for sustainable development are managed by Mayors. So, one agrees wholly with experts that it is possible to use urbanization to achieve sustainable development by tailoring the way cities are planned, designed, financed, developed, governed and managed. This poses the greatest challenge to Nigerian cities or urban centres, especially Lagos, the only mega-city. They should be safe, beautiful and livable.
The World Cities Day was established on 27 December 2013 by the United Nations General Assembly in its resolution A/RES/68/239, in which it “decides to designate 31 October, beginning in 2014, as World Cities Day.” States, the United Nations system, in particular UN-Habitat, relevant international organisations, civil society and relevant stakeholders were all encouraged to observe and raise awareness of the day. The general theme of World Cities Day is Better City, Better Life, while each year a different sub-theme is selected, to either promote successes of urbanization, or address specific challenges resulting from urbanization. The theme for 2019 is “Changing the world: Innovations and better life for Future Generations.”
This year’s celebration was hosted by Ekaterinburg, in the Russian Federation, with the above theme. It was supported by the UN-Habitat, Ministry of Construction Industry and Housing of the Russian Federation, the Sverdlovsk Region government and the City of Ekaterinburg. Part of the celebration was a youth event co-organised by the UN-Habitat and the National Youth Council of Russia themed: «Generation 2030: Implementing the Urban Dimensions of SDGs». The scheduled happening was reportedly attended by more than 100 young people from different regions of Russia and other countries. The focus and emphasis tallied with the theme – Generation 2030… When an event is designed to address the future, naturally, young people should be involved to play a dominant role. Although Nigerians would do it differently, but that was exactly what transpired in Russia. “Young people selected to participate in the youth platform also participated in the main programme of World Cities Day on October 31, 2019. Besides, planners were equally definitive on who is eligible to participate: Young people between “18-35 years of age, representatives of youth NGOs, young architects and urbanists, young mayors, deputies, students, students and other representatives of active youth who are working with urban development and SDGs.”
Available details confirmed a smorgasbord of developmental benefits, particularly the active participation of youths in the recent globally observed World Cities Day jointly celebrated by the UN-Habitat and Russian city of Ekaterinburg.
Although there are records of observation of international days before the establishment of the United Nations in 1945, the world body has embraced such events as “a powerful advocacy tool to educate the public on issues of concern, to mobilize political will and resources to address global problems, and to celebrate and reinforce achievements of humanity.” International days are actually opportunities to organize activities related to the theme as it affects each locale, as exemplified by the 2019 event in Russia.
But, how well do Nigerians observe International Days, given their significance to our environment?
The question could best be answered from the perspective of the World Cities Day. As in most other international days, it was observed by relaying the speech of the UN Secretary-General on the event, a quiz from a Lagos FM radio station. The question from the radio hostess is of interest to the Orbit because of the attitude of states and local governments in Nigeria towards urban development.
As captured by EnviroNews: in a phone-in programme on Classic FM Radio 97.3 in commemoration of 2019 World Cities Day – as monitored by Mr Yacoob Abiodun – the anchor-woman asked listeners: ‘Is Lagos a megacity or a mega slum?’ “In response to the question, some respondents, including government officials erroneously perceived the jargon to mean a TROPHY (my emphasis) – meaning the status of the city has been elevated. Some even saw it as an accolade, but for what reason(s), they could not cogently explain, while other callers were completely ignorant of the exact meaning of the terminology.”
Perhaps, being that Lagos formerly combined both political and economic capital of Nigeria with the largest seaport and an international airport, as well as the highest concentration of media houses, it stands out among other cities in terms of social enlightenment, labour and civil society activism and ethnic composition. Notwithstanding the mega-city rating – exceeding the 10 million population – poses real challenge for the state and local governments. Ironically, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu was the governor in 2006 when an American journalist, George Packer of The New Yorker, stated that “The most widely available commodity in Lagos is garbage.” Thirteen years on, the situation has not changed much. And most state capitals and big commercial towns are not better
For example, Mr Abiodun, in his article, Lagos Mega-city: Meaning, Challenges and Solutions, noted: “Lagos mega-city is still a struggling city. Life is stressful and brutish. All city indices to determine livability point south, causing a dent on its reputation; described as one of the ‘worst and most dangerous city to live in the world’, according to the 2019 ranking of Livable/Safe City global survey conducted by the authoritative Economic Intelligence Unit of World Bank.” He cited the city-state of Singapore and Boston, Massachusetts as suitable examples:
“Singapore uses smart technology to dim or turn up street lighting automatically by using real-time data on prevailing light conditions, saving as much as 30 per cent on energy costs, while still providing residents with safe lighting. In Boston, Massachusetts, USA, the citizens use a digital application to register concerns about streets that need cleaning or potholes that need fixing. The residents of Lagos megacity under the current situation where most of the roads are ridden with potholes would be happy to have such a digital application in use. Moving around Lagos mega-city must be made seamless.”
So much about Lagos! The question is which other governor, except Mallam Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna, has plans or making efforts to elevate the status of their cities? It is hoped that state governors appreciate the importance of livable urban centre. Unfortunately, there is a very sad misconception among state governors and the local government chairs. None appreciates the fact that it has a responsibility to develop its capital and major commercial towns with a view to attracting investors, property developers, skilled artisans and all forms of small and medium enterprises, as well as road infrastructure, cultural festivals/concerts, eco-tourism and the hospitality industry. This is the only means of increasing their internally generated revenue. Because of this absence of competition in the provision of social amenities and investment-friendly environment, including security, Lagos State governors are left with the impression that they are being charitable to the millions of workers, artisans and small scale business owners in the state, especially those considered non-indigenes. Yet, they reap billions of revenue levies, taxes, etc., from the bulging population of the state.
Besides the 36 state capitals, which spells at least same number of private tertiary institutions nationwide, there are other commercial cities with reasonable population of professionals, students and youths, such as Aba, Ikot Ekpene, Eket, Onitsha, Nnewi, Warri, Ile-Ife, Ijebu-Ode, Sagamu, Zaria, etc. These should attract political and civil society activism on environmental, human rights and other local and international issues, especially United Nations designated days, most of which are targeted towards the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals.
It is time Nigerians realise that indifference and docility in all its ramifications work to the advantage of the exploitative and self-serving political class. You must be alive to your environment.
*Nwafo, Environment Analyst, can be reached on: [email protected]; +2348029334754, 09065225130.
Share
your story or I Witness Reports with us 24/7 via: SMS: +234 (0)9076248001
Whatsapp: +234(0)8072022024, Email: [email protected]
Website: www.gatmash.com
For advert placement, contact us today via email: [email protected] or call our hotlines on Tel: +234(0)8072022024, 08166622444, 09076248001
