Tinubu’s Fuelnomics: Nigerians Are Getting Out Of Vehicles. Obaseki, Makinde Can Build Sidewalks For Trekking, Cycling
The Oasis Reporters
July 30, 2023
@Theoasisreport1
Roads in the once boisterously buoyant city of Ibadan in Nigeria’s South West have never been this emptier since June 2023, showing signs of a habitat that has lost it’s gait and it’s bounce with cars seemingly parked at homes due to the astronomical rise in the pump price of premium motor spirit that is otherwise called petrol.
Hitherto, Nigerians used to celebrate their often outsized cars. Churches in Ibadan today, Sunday had virtually half full car parking spaces and even slightly empty seats as the cost of transportation is forcing many churchgoers to worship online at home.
The same scenario is being reported nationwide, from Lagos to Abuja, Kano to Calabar, Sokoto to Lokoja, due to the high cost of transportation.
As it is, movement in Nigeria would have to be minimized. With the economic slowdown in the face of runaway inflation and static salaries, there has to be fast revolutionary thinking on other modes of commuting so more people can still be at work.
It may take a while longer for Nigeria to transit to electric vehicles that would save on fuel costs. But the infrastructure is not yet on ground.
For the time being, I believe that progressive governors like Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and Obaseki of Edo state who have been investing more resources on roads to connect communities should show more buoyancy in constructing sidewalks that would launch a trekking culture for Nigerians.
My first visit to Ibadan was when Chief Rashidi Ladoja was governor in the mid 2000s. He was impressive in road construction because he seemed to know that Ibadan had very narrow roads, a legacy of the First Republic, when Nigeria’s population was below 80 million or thereabouts.
With population explosion, the roads became clogged and traffic was a nightmare. In the short time that he was governor, he commenced the expansion of Iwo road, a significant artery in Ibadan’s road network. Then he was abruptly impeached.
His successor, Christopher Alao Akala continued the work, but by the time he finished the work on Iwo Road, the poorly designed sidewalks were collapsing.
Sidewalks and drainages are important to roads. But the quality of these were neglected.
Therefore those who wish to walk would be sharing the roads with motorists, a scenario that is in itself, dangerous.
To understand the role of sidewalks in adding to the livability of a city, some Nigerian governors from Southern Nigeria would need to visit the city of Kano in the North West region. I was there when then Governor Ibrahim Shekarau (2003-2010) reconstructed Zoo Road and gave the road elegant sidewalks for trekkers and those who would want to cycle in safety and style.
Environmentally speaking, trekking or cycling would help lower greenhouse gas emissions from automobiles. The less petrol cars on the road, the better for the climate.
Besides, trekking is an exercise. With street lighting being embarked by Seyi Makinde in Ibadan, trekking home from work would keep workers fit by keeping obesity at bay, as well as helping the pockets in addition.
By Greg Abolo
gregabolo@gmail.com
