Lagos traffic: The Economist blast Ambode, says he is full of excuses and few solutions

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, lacks the solution to the traffic congestion and robberies plaguing the state.

The magazine said rather than build on the successes of his predecessor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), Ambode had continued to fail at his job. It added that the only thing Ambode had been able to do was make excuses for his shortcomings.

The Economist said in its latest issue that Fashola succeeded by enforcing stringent traffic laws and empowering the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority. It said Ambode’s undoing was relaxing the enforcement of traffic laws which had encouraged a culture of impunity in Nigeria’s most populous city.

It said the gridlock was already affecting productivity and the way of life of Lagosians because workers now. Ambode cut the powers of traffic controllers by banning them from impounding cars. In retaliation, officers have refused to enforce the rules. Reform in a culture riddled with corruption is never easy. Mr Ambode’s office says the measure was intended to create a more “civil society”. Less fastidious types think it amounts to weakness, and would prefer that he focused on public transport instead. The biggest concern is that the gridlock is a sign of a breakdown in relations between security forces, government agencies and the new governor. If that is the case, there could be worse to come. That is bad news not only for Lagosians, but all Nigerians too. get to work late.

It explained that armed robbers had taken advantage of the usual traffic gridlock thereby worsening the plight of Lagosians.