 Alright, we're back with the breakfast and plus TV Africa and of course to a first major conversation this morning on traffic management in Liga State, I'm glad to say I guess it's already standing by to do justice to this topic. The Liga State Traffic Management Authority last month arrested 19 vehicles, or should I say impounded 19 vehicles for indiscriminate illegal parking of vehicles garages and parks in the state. The arrest followed continuous perennial traffic gridlock experience around parts of the state, for instance we have the Pongbong inwards and outwards, Ligas Island for those who may not know where that part of Liga State is. The general manager of the agency Boraje Oreagwa set the ongoing total clampdown as he put it and backed upon by the authority to also generally ease the traffic situation and traffic flow in Liga State, ease traffic flow to motorists, particularly during what he called the EMBA mounts across the state. This happens to be the months of September, October, November and December, we see maybe a little bit more activity, business activity and movement of people around the country. Now Oreagwa disclosed that a study had revealed that the perennial traffic gridlock experienced by motorists in Liga State is caused by recalcitrant drivers who do not want to comply with the state traffic laws and regulations, they also said the ongoing total enforcement is expected to cover major identified spots and is being coordinated by the core operation commands from last my headquarters in Oshodi, Ligas. However, this ongoing total enforcement isn't being received well by some residents of Nigeria's commercial nef center who feel that traffic agencies doing too hard or going too hard on private vehicles as compared to commercial transportation vehicles popularly known as Stanford, we have joining us to discuss is all important issue of traffic management in Nigeria's largest city, Nigeria's commercial nef center, Ligas, Mr. Manduubani, who is a legal practitioner of Ubani and Co. Mr. Ubani, good morning to you and thank you very much for your time. Thank you for having me, good morning. Last month has given us reasons why they are backing on this total clamp down like they call it a total enforcement against motorists who park indiscriminately in Ligas, different spots of Ligas. What are your thoughts on the work of last month and recent time and the resultant effect of traffic in Ligas, you are joining us from Ligas so you know better than most people. Yeah, thank you for having me once again. I want to say that I live in Ligas and I experience Ligas gridlock. Any time I'm going to cut in Ligas Island, I have to wake up by 4 a.m. and most leave my house by 5.30 or 6.00 latest if I must be caught on time. That is 9 a.m. which is the time the cough sits in Ligas Island. If it's Ikeja, I mean I should leave my house by 8.30, I don't leave by 7.00 a.m. The likelihood of going to court very late is there. Living in Ligas is very early, I must tell you this. Ligas is a beautiful place but the only disadvantage of living in Ligas is the traffic situation. The traffic situation is very, very killing. People are dying gradually in Ligas, people who work in Ligas Island. It takes an average three hours to get to work. It also takes an average of three hours to get back to your home for those who live in mainland. It's a terrible situation and almost every government has found it very difficult to actually ease the gridlock in Ligas. I sent a specialist administration that tried it and then there was this invitation on the part of Ambo Day to really phase out these commercial buses and bringing government buses and private enterprise to actually supplement in ensuring the free flow of traffic in Ligas. We are back to square one in terms of gridlock. It's very clean, it's very clean for those who go to work every day. You have to wake up so early, you might have to be on time in your office and so anything that the government is doing in order to ease traffic congestion in Ligas is clearly welcome. The last man has to be up at the win. They need to wake up very early in order to ensure that the people who drive on the road do not maintain poor driving practices. A lot of these bus drivers and some of you private owners find very easy to commit crime by going through the process of one way or parking illegally, you know, all manner of things. Even for what I see on the road at times, you know, someone who just come and park his motor in such a manner that he knows that there is no, you know, thoroughfare, you know, and he is blocking the road. You see the kind of impunity and kind of carelessness on the part of Ligas drivers. But honestly, the commercial bus drivers, I'm talking about even private owners, they will just park anyhow and block the road. And then they go and start doing their business, you know, not caring that people are being inconvenienced, you know. So whatever that can be done within the parameters of the law, parameters of the law, we may also discuss the use of abuses because anyone who is in uniform in this country tend to be very, you know, abuse the law and all that we take, we talk about it. But I'm saying that last man has to actually, you know, get up and then be alert and then all day again, in order to ease traffic on the issue situation in Ligas, he's becoming so unbearable for those who live in Ligas, you know, spend average three hours to get to work, average three hours to get back to work. I mean, from work, it's terrible. It's a terrible situation. Like you have mentioned, free flow of traffic. And you have you have mentioned that it will be important to face out, you know, private enterprise and have government on versus move around. But really, is that the problem? Because if you look at the road network, especially for those who are on the island, the road network is nothing to write on about. There's a one way in and one way out. Everybody's going through the same road to come in and come out. It's not applicable to, you know, those who are on the main line. And so is this really the solution facing out private enterprise or the road network? No, I agree in addition, it's not one solution in a really, you know, face it. I mean, trying to converse the road in Ligas, you don't probably take only one particular solution, which is the issue of removing this more and more and all this. Is it the yellow buses and all that out the road? Creating road network, creating the road network and diversification of transport system like railway, you know, those who go to sea and all that. We really help to the congested Legos. I understand that Legos is trying to do for the main land bridge. Now that has been in the pipeline and it's obvious that this present government of four year tenure of San Ulu may not probably consider. Maybe he is waiting for his second tenure to continue that particular bid process because four main land bridge will really do a lot in terms of the congestion, then the railway system. I don't know, I also understand that that one has nearly gotten to an advanced stage and very soon it's going to be operational. We need to have a rail working system in Legos also in order to have in the congestion. If you rely only on motor and on cars and applying the road, you know, as only means of transportation in Legos, then you have not planned well for a place called Center of Excellence. You know, it has to be a mixture of all all all transport system, you know, that can ease the congestion. So I agree with you that facing out the yellow buses and all that may not be the only solution. You have to take multi-dimensional measures which include other news of transportation creating other mean more road network, which is not, you know, presently on, except, you know, there is no major, no major, you know, road creation that I'm saying, like the four main land bridge I'm talking about, you know, when Ambode was there, remember what he did in Oshiri? Remember what he did in Begha? Remember what he did in Agi game? These are the kind of, you know, you know, and then an airport, airport international road is things like that that can begin to really ease transportation system in Legos. But if we don't have such major, major plan of creation of more additional road and road network, then we will remain where we are now. So I agree with you that creation of more road network. Mr. Bhanu, can you hear us? I seem to have a freeze on the network, but important points he's raised about, you know, we are in response to message question about looking at other means of transportation in Legos state. Mr. Bhanu, can you hear me? Okay, all right. But interesting points you've raised. I'm looking at the reason given by the general manager of the Legos state traffic management agency, LASMA, or authority LASMA, he's saying that they conducted a study which revealed that the perennial traffic gridlock experienced by motorists was caused by recourse and drivers say coming down hard on illegal or indiscriminate what they say illegal parking of vehicles, indiscriminate illegal parking of vehicles. Now, we look at the major spots we have gridlock in Legos state. As a road user in Legos state described the situation as hellish, and you said we are back to square one as far as traffic management is concerned. So we're talking about pre and fascia LAS days. Who was going to be for fascia LAS? Merci. I can't remember all of that. Um, so, so yeah, um, yes, thanks for the reminder, Mr. O'Banni. So, um, do you agree that it's about, it's majorly about indiscriminate or illegal parking? That's why we have the traffic gridlock in, in, in spots in Legos state. So most, the truth of the matter is that Legosians are very indisciplined, you know, when it comes to driving on the road. I discover most times you are, you encounter very terrible gridlock, very terrible gridlock. Sometimes hours you'll be on the steering. And then when you now get to the place that probably started the gridlock, in order to know the major reason why that gridlock, you will not see anything. Obviously, somebody has shown some level of indiscipline by other parking in order to carry a passenger. And before you know it, the traffic buildup, so he, he, he is right only in one aspect in saying that indiscipline or, you know, drive, you know, drivers, you know, people who are not discipline drivers on the road, but not the only reason is not the only reason. Yes, very rough drivers cause gridlock. Most times you get to the bus stop. It is what they have parked in order to pick passengers, you know, indiscriminately. And in the process, you know, that will be a traffic buildup. And so it is one of the reasons, not the only reason. You know, I am standing here with every sense of responsibility that it is part of the reason. People are so indiscipline on the road. People park wrongly. People drive one way. People are so impatient. Any small green, any small holder, before you know it, people start taking the road and blocking even oncoming vehicles and all that. So that can constitute nuisance. And for hours, if you guys can be there, you know, you have that for several times. You know, yes, people are clearly, clearly, very, very careless and indiscipline on the road. But that is not only the reason. So taking care of making sure that people are punished or disciplined or criminalised from parking around their mother is part of the solution. But not the only solution. I've mentioned the issue of road network. I've also mentioned the issue of diversification of the transport system. You can rely on road transportation only in order to actually ease in the 21st century. And you call a bus, a plane, etc., etc. No, you can't go to London and see how a city that is old functions. You cannot buy any vehicle in London City. I mean, anywhere you want to go, all the transport systems are working. The railways, all of them, the roads, even the sea. So why can't we, you know, with all the kind of resources we have and all the kind of money that Lagos did, you spend four or five hours. Your life is being shut in every day. Anyone that comes to Lagos, you know, and probably go to Abuja, you see the difference. You know, who likes to live in Lagos? Some of us, if not for the business we do here in Lagos, who don't relocate? You go to some other places outside Lagos, you see line, you see serenity. You see, you see, you see, you know, your life, you know, you come back refreshed. But here, here is hellish. You come back, your life is being shut in every day. You have high blood pressure. People are collapsing and dying as a result of spending hours on traffic. You know, it can be very frustrating. Any serious government should be able to tackle this issue of transport, you know, the issue of the management of the road, you know, in Lagos. It should spare a greater attention. Make every arrangement. Because in this language, if you're on governance, you know, even go on strength trail, or on the road, going to work. It can be killing. It means that there is no governance, you know, and all that. So I am very happy that they are now working up in order to ensure that the road is free and discipline those that actually block rules, you know, illegally and do the wrong thing. But in doing it, again, as I said earlier, we must also ensure that there is no abuse. We should also monitor them. Because everyone in the country can't have Nigerian abuse, abuse their power. You must make sure that they do it within the ambit of the law, that they not abuse their powers. But I like the fact that you have mentioned, you know, the issues as it is, protection of lives and properties as your objective right there for LASMA, and also ensuring that there's free flow of traffic. But another issue, which is not only, I mean, I don't know, but driving through the roads of Abuja seem to be very seamless. And that's why one would say that the president might not understand people are going through a lot because the roads in Abuja are really different from other paths. I mean, if you're driving through the roads are seamless. I don't know if I've ever experienced a pothole right there in the FCT. But you see there's several potholes. That's another issue. What exactly, because this also constitute to the traffic situation, like you would say, if you drive through your passenger or motorist, at some point you encounter, you know, the gridlock. And then you will find out that nothing is really in front of you. It probably might just be a pothole that a vehicle is trying to maneuver. These are the issues. So why has this been, you know, on the front bonnet? Now, just recently, we also have reports of, you know, the legacy by the expressway. It's a lot. Teepers are just moving back and forth and, you know, crashing over trailers and what a view because the roads are not motorable. Why haven't we been great? If Lagos is really, you know, the hub of African business and what have you, largest African business center, the accolades will go on and what? But why haven't we been able to, you know, fix the roads? The roads are not motorable. That's also a major concern. I like that you share your thoughts on this one. And this is not just limited to Lagos. It cuts across board. It is clearly, clearly absence of governance. And then I don't know whether to say lack of seriousness on the part of any government to neglect maintenance of the road. Now I live in Magado. I live in Magado in Chile. And I am, and God knows what I'm trying to say now. I would not want to run any government for the sake of doing that. That would be clearly responsible on my part. I'm a citizen of this country and I should be responsible enough to speak the truth, also to power, tell them the right thing to be done, you know, not being afraid. I am not too happy with the maintenance of the road under this administration. I live in Magado, as I said earlier. The road to my estate, Magado is sharing. Magado is sharing. The moment we are coming from Homo Lefez II, I want to enter into Magado. Magado. The road is so, I mean, there is one particular spot now that I can spend almost 20 minutes before you. And this is a road within five minutes from sharing your, you are in Magado estate. Well, because that place has been there for almost two or three months now. And then every day, you know, it is getting worse and worse without any intervention of government. I know, and I'm saying it here, not probably to praise any person or to run down the government. When fashion law was in power, that road almost every three weeks or, you know, even though I also will condemn that attitude of not doing it well, but they make sure that they come there regularly to patch that road and make it very material. The same thing with when I was there. But I'm surprised for over six months now, nothing has been done on the road leading to sharing Magado. And so also all other roads in Lagos. So all other roads in Lagos. And so the moment you don't maintain roads, it will lead to congestion of the road because trying to avoid bad spots will lower your movement. The moment transport, I mean, your movement is lower. Other vehicles will also lower their decision. Before you know it, traffic's hard to build up. If you know about driving, you know about velocity, you know about slowing down. And there are so many vehicles in Lagos. The moment one second is wasted, you know, in trying to avoid bad spots, before you know it, vehicles now will be tried to and then build up. Build up. Before you know it takes three hours for it to get to a destination. So bad road. As Raelio mentioned, he's part of it. And I think that I'm calling on the governor of Lagos to really wake up and really ask those people in the ministry of work what they are doing. All the roads are not being maintained. All the roads. And under this renaissance, and I'll tell you this, a lot of the roads are bad. So unleashing at last mile is good on the road. We must also take all that, you know, actions. Actions that can actually ease transport, one of which is maintenance of the road. The second one is issue of creation of more road network. There are places that are terrible gridlock. What will bring the engineers and I'll tell you, the engineers are so cool. When I saw what Lagos that did in Ojo-Dubega, what Ojo-Dubega have lived in Magado in the Sherry for many years, but when one day I just saw what happened in Ojo-Dubega and I said, which engineers? And I said, and you're an engineer. They just came and they put on their thinking cap and say, what do we do to ensure we deal this gridlock that happens in Ojo-Dubega? And look at it, if it passed to Ojo-Dubega, you know, you can attest to what I did. And I know that is the one engineer. So Lagos that has engineers that can come in and then say, what do we do? They can, you know, fly over, whatever. Before, you know, it's area that has become perennial in terms of gridlock. You can come and before you know it, you can begin to use transport, I mean transport system there. So I think that the Lagos that we need to really put on thinking cap. There are a lot of issues, you know, bordering on issue of transportation issue in Lagos like in other areas. We know there are perennial gridlock. They can bring in engineers from Lagos and I tell you, before you know it, they can be able to solve the problem. You know what happened in Ojo-Dubega? You know what happened in Aghege? It's an engineering engineer that did all this. So it can be done. So let him also ensure that this thing is done. For now, the rules are not being maintained in Lagos and that is contributing to the traffic gridlock. Thank you so much. Thank you so much, Mandel, Ubani, and it's interesting the points you've raised. We only hope that that hellish state of traffic situation in Lagos will become a bit more heavenly in the coming months. Thank you so much for your time, Mandel, Ubani, legal practitioner and, of course, joining us from Ubani and co-legal chambers right here on the breakfast on Plus TV Africa. When we return from our break, we have a conversational electricity situation. Workers from the sector are planning to come back on another strike, which we will discuss.