LAGOS – Some residents of Lagos on Thursday looked into the New Year, listing their expectations from government at all levels in the country.
In separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, the residents said that political office holders should endeavour to restore hope to the Nigerian masses.
Mr Gift Wejem, a furniture dealer, said that government ought to raise the hope of the Nigerians by reducing the level of poverty in the country.
“Government should give us hope and create employment opportunities for the teeming youths who roam the streets without jobs,’’ Wejem said.
He decried the influx of substandard materials into the country, stressing that their proliferation had affected the indigenous products markets and relieved a lot of people of their jobs.
Wejem said he looked forward to a brighter 2015.
Dr Nkechi Asogwa, a medical practitioner, called on government to prioritise health care at all levels and make it more accessible.
“Government at the local, state and federal levels should give attention to health issues,’’ she said.
Asogwa urged the governments to stem the tide of losses to communicable and non-communicable diseases in the country.
She called for improvement in the public health sector, noting that many Nigerians do not have the wherewithal to pay for expensive health facilities at private hospitals.
Mr Deji Makinde, an Insurance Marketer said that government should intensify its fight against terrorism to restore peace and security to the the affected areas in the North.
Makinde expressed sadness over the innocent Nigerians whose lives had been terminated by the activities of insurgents.
Mr Godwin Ayigbo, a Pastor, also said that the attention of the government should be centered on how to restore peace and end some senseless killings in the country.
“I think government’s focus should be on restoration of peace and unity.
“All other development is subsumed in an atmosphere of peace,’’ Ayigbo said.
Meanwhile, Lagos roads were free of traffic on New Year Day as cars moved freely around roads in the city.
NAN reports that the LAGBUS Assets Management Company, operators of Lagos Metropolitan buses, also offered free rides to commuters for the New Year day.
Some of the commuters who spoke to NAN commended the Lagos State government for providing the buses but said that the inadequate number of buses led to over-crowding.
One of them, Mr Austin Ibe, a final year student of the Lagos State University (LASU), told NAN: “The free ride is a good development; the only problem is that the buses are few.
“We had to wait on the queue for a long time before a bus came. I am not sure that there are enough buses on the roads today.’’
Ibe, who boarded the LAGBUS from Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos to Stadium Bus Stop in Surulere, said that such a development was not unexpected whenever a service was rendered free.
Another beneficiary, Mrs Taibat Alabi, a Trader, who boarded the bus from Oshodi to Obalende commended the government for rescuing the people from the exploitation of commercial buses on such a festive day.
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“If not for the free ride, the `Danfo’ (commercial) buses will seize the opportunity of the season to exploit us,’’ she said.
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Miss Titilayo Kehinde, a Teacher, who equally benefited from the free ride from Iyana-Ipaja to Oshodi said: “Besides the fact that the buses are few, many of the drivers put up unfriendly attitudes because it is not paid for.
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“For instance, this one failed to reach the last bus stop before the driver asked all the passengers to disembark.’’
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Kehinde said that there was a need for improvement in the service, regardless of whether the service was free or paid for. (NAN)
