Lagos commuters... Ahoy!

Hello Lagosians,

Welcome to the ekocommute blog.

Ekocommute will dwell on issues we face everyday as we journey around Lagos. I did not think I had enough material to blog on this subject so I decided to respect myself and just "siddon" look. However, everytime I saw some injustice or abnormality in our traffic system, I would just get upset causing myself unnecessary health problems. So I decided to let off steam and write anyway.

This blog is dedicated to all those who commute around Lagos everyday. We are not strangers to the traffic jams, the floods, the bad roads and of course the "officers" we encounter everyday. You know them - LASTMA, VIO, KAI, FRSC, local government officials and of course our long time friends, the Police. Don't forget those "security boys" who drive menacingly with their punctuated sirens threatening and actually "brushing" us with those pick-ups.

It has been said (a communique issued from one sports bar by a group of semi intoxicated guys) that the average Lagos worker spends about 3 hours a day in traffic (to and from work) and if you are a marketing staff you can add another 2 or 3 hours to your daily road experience.

Now the ekocommute scope can be very vast because you may have to take into consideration many factors. There are the car owners or the "hoppers". Among each category are the privileged and ordinary. The priviledged car owner is one who drives either a brand new car or an upscale tokunbo (if you know what I mean). The ordinary car owner is one who is managing his car ('nuff said). A priviledged hopper is one who takes drops (mostly the "big babes") and the ordinary hopper is one who will jump into the buses or hop an "okada" to move.

Whichever of these categories you may belong to, I'm sure you have stories to tell. Either your daily encounter at bus-stops or frustrations on the roads. So do contribute either a comment or suggestion that may help us and the government manage this monster better.

I will try to make this an effective blog by involving "stakeholders". Let's hear what the government has to say. Ministry of transport, LAMATA, LASTMA, Police etc. What about the banks who send out those wild dogs to deliver "our" money in one branch or the other? Autodealers or car manufacturers can come and "boast" about their rides. Health professionals have advice on how to cope with this mad phenomenum. Then there are the busybodies who don't have anything to say but say it anyway...

Forgive initial lapses in grammar, lexis and structure. We will improve as we go along.

Once again, welcome to Ekocommute!