Striking the safety note

I guess I’m not the only one who has noticed the ubiquitous presence of some brand new, beautifully painted and operation-ready police vehicles across some strategic spots in Lagos state. Even if we don’t have the full details of how these pristine security automobiles suddenly surfaced on the streets of Lagos, we can’t deny noticing them. But the conversation out there is that the Lagos state governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, has been jolted to action following the harsh criticisms coupled with some hard-hitting diatribes that trailed the return of the discomforting traffic gridlock and criminality on Lagos roads.

Of course, Lagosians were not slack in giving the sticks to their new governor for not exercising his authority and exerting his leadership enough.

However, instead of replying with excuses and counter attacks as most politicians are wont to, the governor has chosen to respond rapidly by getting the special police unit in Lagos state – the Rapid Respond Squad (RRS) – more fortified to work more effectively. And, perhaps on assessment of the prevailing situation, the deployment of the cars have become necessary as part of the expected solutions to the crises and the governor’s reaffirmation of his commitment to the service of all Lagosians.

While the discussion on the traffic snarls and road robbery was at its peak, I wrote about Ambode and the burden of a megacity. A few people who reacted to my thoughts in the piece opined that Ambode seemed out of sync with the magnitude of the assignment before him. They also cast doubts on his understanding of the necessity of reeling out his vision with some endearing schemes or activities at the early stage of his administration, even if it is just to serve as a stop-gap, so to speak, before getting full grip of the wheel of governance in the state.

That sentiment on a temporary way-out is a thing I also subscribed to. Truly speaking, there isn’t anything unusual about people in government deploying a short-term populist strategy to address an urgent public matter while they continue to work behind the scene towards developing an enduring answer to societal challenges.

However, that is an aspect I suppose Ambode didn’t pay more attention to when he came on board, and on which he almost slipped and kissed the floor. But thankfully, he was swift to pull himself back; and now appears totally set to square up to the monsters that are threatening the social fabric of Lagos state.

Apart from the over N4 billion said to have been expended on varying security equipment such as the salon cars, trucks, power bikes, and armed personnel carriers amongst other sophisticated operational machinery to improve the safety of lives and property of residents and visitors to the state, the Ambode-led administration seemed to have equally ignited the fire of proactive undertakings within the state’s agencies. The news of the closure of a multi-billion, multi-national shopping outlet, Shoprite located in Ikeja, Lagos State by the Lagos State Safety Commission for allegedly breaching the state’s safety law is very informative in this sense.

Headed by Mr. Fuad Oki, the agency had, according to reports, reacted to the several complaints by members of the public about adulterated and expired products being sold in the outlet; and also affirmed that covert investigations on the operations of the superstore had been conducted before it was sealed.

Truth be told, though not suggesting Shoprite particularly, lots of bad products which are highly dangerous and damaging to human health are being marketed to the public on a daily basis. And these are continually run by evil cabal made of people who operate corner shops, kiosks, makeshift market as well as their role models, the management of the supermarkets.

Up till now, despite the long battle waged by the National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) against drug counterfeiters and sellers of unlicensed and delicate consumables, the perpetrators are still going about with their unethical and unscrupulous businesses as usual. And Lagos, unfortunately, remains a destination of choice for these characters.

This is the more reason why the state government needs to come out more ferociously against violators of public safety and peace however big or highly placed they are. It can also exploit the circumstance to create a new stream of income by imposing punitive fines on individuals and organisations that conduct their activities in contravention of the governing laws of the state.

In conclusion, one would expect that the case of Shoprite will not go the way of a popular confectionary café in the highbrow area of Lagos State. Some months ago, NAFDAC shut the company over allegations that the company made its food products such as its ice creams, cakes and pastries from unregistered, and expired foreign products.

As there was so much noise by the regulatory agency about catching a big offender in the Lebanese-owned food café which NAFDAC said was shut down based on “unethical practices and non-adherence to good manufacturing and hygienic practices”, there has equally, and quite strangely, been an audible silence on the outcome of its investigations. And the confectionery shop, which is well-patronised by the high and mighty, has gleefully announced its re-opening and returned to business, I suppose, as usual.