The Metamorphosis Of Rural Lagos

By Adepeju Adeyemi

Being the commercial nerve centre of the West African sub-region, the metropolitan outlook of Lagos has often been mistaken to be devoid of rural settlements. This notion of a no rural Lagos is a gross misconception as approximately 12 per cent of the people in Lagos State dwell and earn their living in non-urban neighbourhoods, country sides and remote villages!

The popular misconception of Lagos to be entirely urban was substantiated at a recent meeting with the Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Dr. Dalhatu Tafida, who was astonished to find out that Lagos State has a Ministry of Rural Development. Dr Tafida is not alone on this drift! Many are swayed that Lagos is ‘ruraless’. Definitely, Lagos is a cosmopolitan Area/City but in spite of this it has several rural and riverine areas. Lagos is not completely elitist in nature as many would want to believe, there are rural areas and there are rural dwellers.

Lagos State, despite that only less than 36 per cent of its population reside in the rural areas, is one of the few (probably not more than three) in the entire federation that accord special attention to rural development by committing a full fledge ministry to champion this cause. Despite the fact that health, education, environment, transportation and security had consistently topped its priority list, the Fashola-led administration in Lagos State is not resting on its oars in developing rural Lagos as it has continued to consolidate on the gains/achievements of his predecessor by recording giant strides in developing rural areas.

There has been an appreciable budget impact which has occasioned an improvement of economic activities in the rural areas as a result of rural initiatives such as provision of electricity, potable water and access roads. The Fashola administration has proved that it is a government for the rich and the less privileged, as it is busy renewing urban Lagos, it is equally making frantic efforts to ensure a better life for the rural dwellers.

The emergence of Cornelius Oyefolu Ojelabi as the Commissioner for Rural Development has been of tremendous blessings to the rural populace, being a grassroots man himself. Consequently, the state has been able to achieve giant’s strides in rural infrastructure development in record time in the provision of roads, pipe-borne water, electricity, standard concrete foot bridges, etc. Others include empowerment of rural artisans, fishermen, farmers and traders through financial grants and provision of working tools.

Many communities in rural areas such as Shoko, Idale Whedakoh, Igbanko, Imota Onireke (Badagry axis), Origele Origbongbo, Muwo, Oke Ijewu (Ojo axis) Sabo Oriba in Iba, Onasa, Ajegbenwa Arapagi, Orimedu Extension (Ibeju-Lekki axis), Jeki Alade Egbe Idimu LCDA, Anu Oluwa T-Junction Epe LG, Egasoyindo Eredo LCDA, among others can now heave sighs of relief as a result of various government interventions in the provision of rural electrification, rural roads, rural water among others.  These areas that were hitherto remote communities had through the electrification programme of the state government benefitted from the construction of relief transformer substations, distribution of transformers and erection of poles in these rural and riverine communities of the state thereby enhancing the growth and development of these communities.

 No doubt, water is a basic need of man and as such intrinsic to life. All living things including plants and animals need water for survival. It is in line with this that the Ministry of Rural Development in the last one year has successfully executed 76 water and sanitation projects in different parts of the state. These communities include Ijede, Ejirin, Sekungba, Igboye, Lakowe, Iworo Ajido, Ijegun-Olorunshogo, Oriba, Odan-Era, Ese-Ofin, Itun Agan, Ogogoro, Shade-Ikesan, Irepodun Isawo, Eruwen-Oloye, Gbaga-Eyebere, Radelu, Araromi, Agbede, Gbenu, Seje-Tolulope, Eruwen-Oloye and Offiran among others.

 With the provision of solar powered communal toilets in Agbalata Market and VIP toilets in Ajara Market (a major market) in Badagry and several sensitization workshops and awareness programmes to educate and enlighten rural dwellers on the dangers inherent in open defecation, such unwholesome habit is becoming a thing of the past amongst rural dwellers and this has also helped to prevent the outbreak of epidemics in such areas.

 Community policing could not be more timely than now considering the current level of insecurity in Nigeria and by extension Lagos State. The Neighborhood Watch Security outfit has become a veritable tool as grassroots ‘police’ working hand in hand with a larger security outfit such as the police in order to reduce insecurity in the state. With regular training and re-training and provisions of 48 patrol vehicles, defensive gadgets such as electric batons, handcuffs and scanners there has been tremendous improvement in performance, little wonder the State Government is enjoying peace and as a pace setter other states have been coming to understudy the outfit and establish theirs.

Accessibility to good roads and infrastructure is undoubtedly a major catalyst for economic development. It is in line with this that the Ministry of Rural Development is determined to make life better for rural dwellers and reduce rural urban drift to the barest minimum by opening up rural roads, providing  jetties, drains, culverts and concrete footbridges in rural communities.

 The joy in the hearts of the people of Ese-Ofin, a riverine community in Otto-Awori was overwhelming when the state government handed over a 240-metre by 2-metre concrete solid foot bridge to replace the old dilapidated wooden bridge which had hitherto made the conveyance of seafood and farm produce from adjoining communities to the larger markets burdensome. Shamsi Jaiyesimi Road in Ikorodu Local Government now boasts of completed drainages, culverts, street lights and walkways while damaged drains and culverts on Tanko Road in Badagry were reconstructed with provision of stone-base to compact the road. Ofinni  Road at Abule Moore in Agbado Oke Odo LCDA and Fafunwa-Isale Odo Road in Ayobo are also beneficiaries of drains and culverts.

Inhabitants of Okunfolu, Mafogunde, Okunlape, Igbogun and other villages in Ibeju-Lekki Local Government also had cause to smile recently when the State Government provided them with complete fishing tools such as outboard engines, branded dug-out boats, fishing nets, sinkers and hooks. This remote village came alive and their joy knew no bounds as they are professional fishermen.  The various community heads were on hand to receive the rural family.

With the transformation of the rural area, the Fashola administration has proved that it is a government for the rich and the less privileged. As it is busy renewing urban Lagos, it is equally making frantic efforts to ensure a better life for the rural dwellers. This, indeed, is what governance is all about.

•Adeyemi is of the Press and Public Relations Unit , Ministry of Rural Development, Alausa, Ikeja.