They were flashpoints that no one dared play around after sunset. They were motor parks that commuters dared not wait for commercial vehicles. They were usually occupied by miscreants, hoodlums and all sorts of criminals. The fear of those places, then, was the beginning of wisdom. These places were hitherto homes to Lagos vagabonds, destitute persons, the mad and all kinds of human beings that formed the estimated 22 million Lagos residents.
Dark, dirty and dreaded were the places that only those criminal elements could find abode in there. They were places where rape, kidnapping, robbery and other kinds of vices which hitherto made Lagos a volatile state, were committed at will.
But that was then. Now, they are beautiful sites to behold, serving as the new havens to those who appreciate the significance of horticulture and green environment. The state government had taken ownership of these places, dislodged the people of shady character and turned them to parks and environments more attractive to the residents.
The parks are not just adorned with naturally grown flowers and grasses, some of them are equipped with facilities such as toilets, game houses and electronic bill boards, recreational facilities for the kids and adults, sporting facilities like basket ball court, football pitch, lawn tennis court among others.
This, according to Governor Babatunde Fashola, was part of the state government’s efforts to mitigate the impact of climate change and pollution in the state. Speaking on his commitment to sustaining the green environment initiatives, while unveiling the Aka-Bashorun Garden in Gbagada, Fashola said that more than 180 parks and gardens have been reclaimed and redeveloped in different parts of the state. According to him, the development of the parks was carried out by the government to beautify the state, adding that over five million trees, had been planted since he assumed office on May 29, 2007.
“A number of prominent residents of the state have asked me what will happen to the trees when I leave office next year. In order to cater for this, we have set up an agency to create and maintain the parks and garden.
That is the Lagos State Parks and Garden (LASPAK). “This was how we started with the Beko Ransome Kuti Memorial Park and we moved to commissioning of the Prof. Ayodele Awojobi and the Gani Fawehinmi Park, which became an international park due to the role it played as the venue for people to demand for their rights in 2012. All these are great men,” Fashola said. But the Commissioner for the Environment, Mr Tunji Bello, said the moves were not only to curb crime but also to check pollution and inculcate the culture of green environment.
On how to sustain the maintenance of the parks, Bello said the administration developed a long-term plan to maintain, sustain and develop more parks and gardens in the state in addition to the creation of the an agency to cater manage the gardens.
According to him, “in order to cater for this, we have set up an agency to create and maintain the parks and garden. That is the Lagos State Parks and Garden (LASPAK). Since vision of the government is to create a sustainable beautiful, safe and healthy environment in the state through the establishment of functional parks, gardens and recreational centres in line with international standards and best practices, the state government would remain committed to maintenance of the parks.”
He added that with the commissioning of the Oshodi-Heritage Garden, the Dolphin Park and the Alao Aka-Bashorun recreational Park and Garden, the state government has developed 180 parks in the state. “Firstly, we are contributing to the global fight against climate change.
Secondly, we are creating jobs for landscape experts, not to mention the multiplier effect in the supply chain. Thirdly, we are creating veritable outdoor media opportunity for corporate organisations to market their products.
Fourthly, we are restoring the aesthetics of the environment as well as rehabilitating some of our youth who were used in the development of the parks,” he said. Noting the contribution of the private sector, Bello stated that the organised private sector had heeded the clarion call by the state government to assist in restoring the ecological glory of the state.
He said that over 40 corporate bodies had so far partnered with the state Government to beautify our environment. According to him, some of the private sector actors include: Zenith Bank, UBA, Jubali Brothers, First Bank of Nigeria Plc, Nigerian Breweries, Berger Paints, Hitech and Messrs Clear Edge Media who developed Oshodi Heritage-Garden.
Bello said:”Oshodi-Heritage Garden occupies a parcel of land measuring 12,000 square meters and has the following facilities: garden seats, garden lights, children play items, water fountain, irrigational facilities, 200 and 50KVA generator sets, LED bill boards, two sided advert billboards, sculptures moulded with fibre glass, artistic sculpture and fitness facilities.
“The Dolphin Park occupies a total land area of 61,875.42 square metres and has the following facilities: ornamental plants, palms, garden seats, garden lights, children play area, gazebo buts, football pitch, irrigational facilities and toilet facilities.”
But Saturday Mirror gathered that in spite of the government’s efforts at reclaiming these places for more useful and recreational purposes, residents of the state are yet to fully explore their gains for various reasons. Some commended the government for not only mitigating the impact of the climate change but also beautifying the state and creation of employment for some people, while charging the government to sensitise the populace on the usage of the parks. Speaking with Saturday Mirror, Kehinde Olawale, commended the government for the initiatives, saying it has created opportunity for the residents to relax.
Olawale charged the government to ensure provision of light in all the gardens so as not to serve as hideout for criminals at night, even after development of the parks. He said: “It has helped to reclaim the locations from hoodlums who occupied the places before. It has also helped to beautify the state more. People now have public places to relax.
We can see some families; couples who go to the places to relax. These were not in place before now except in some hotels and parks. For Monsuru Ojo, government must sensitise the public on which of the park is owned and managed by the government and which is controlled by private individuals. This, according to him, is responsible for why some of the parks are not patronised.
“Some residents get disappointed when they get to some of the parks where certain demands are made from them. This is because many think all the parks are controlled by the government. So, the government must try and let the people know which of the parks are truly public,” he said.
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