BEAUTIFUL MARINA, Marina looks inviting at night

During the day, the Marina, a commercial street on Lagos Island, melts into the business-like scenery of the area. Because of the hustle and bustle in the area, it is usually very rowdy.

But at night, the Marina is a sharp contrast from what it looks like during the day. With electric lights, palms trees and green railings, Marina literally comes alive at night.

Before its rehabilitation, the area was filthy and inhabited by street urchins. Now, the lights do not only illuminate the area at night, they complement the palm trees and the green railings.

Being close to the sea, the Marina serves as a beautiful relaxation centre because of the cool breeze that blows from the sea. Adequate security is guaranteed by the presence of the police. Officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority and men of the Kick Against Indiscipline squad are always on ground to forestall ugly incidents.

Driving down the Marina, one observes that the roads are smooth and devoid of the usual potholes common on Lagos roads.

Tajudeen Dada, a Lagos resident whose occupation requires him to always be under the flyover at Marina, describes the rehabilitation carried out by the government as a “wonderful development.’

He says that before the project kicked off, miscreants often loitered under the bridge, adding that they frequently emptied their bowels at the waterfront unchallenged.

Dada says the entire stretch of Marina, which used to be very dirty in the past, has been seriously transformed.

He says, “Now it is tidy and everywhere looks fine. People come to rest here. I suggest that the government should provide seats here so that people can come here to relax after work. Some people can be selling cold drinks and snacks. It will make the place lively.

“The government planted palms trees and installed railings and electric lights. When it is Christmas, they put lights and decorate the trees. It makes everywhere look fine. With the lights shining constantly, security has improved significantly.

“Before the Marina was rehabilitated, buses used to park here. There was an old toilet down the stretch of this road, behind the Governor’s House, it used to serve as a hangout for smokers of Indian hemp and other rascals. When they renovated this place, they pulled down the toilet and built a better one. Ever since, these urchins have not gathered there again. A garage of sorts sprang up overnight under the bridge as motorists resorted to parking their vehicles here.

“Policemen are stationed here. So, there is nothing like violence or trouble making. If someone sees this place now it is as if you are abroad. If a stranger comes here he would be impressed. This place is always clean; the Lagos State Waste Management Authority detailed three shifts here so this place is being swept morning, afternoon and night.

“This place does not look quite spectacular in the afternoon because of congestion. But at night, it is a sight to behold. The light they fixed here are always on, all through the day and at night too. The lights add to the beauty of this place as well. This beautification project is not done on just one side of the road; it is also like this at the waterside. There are palms, lights and railings. It runs all through Marina road.”

However, Dada thinks that the full potential of Marina can be fully realised if the place is turned to a major relaxation spot.

“I suggest that what was done in Costain be replicated here. This place is a commercial area; it would be nice if this place could be turned to a relaxation centre. This is because after work, people can relax here before heading home. During the last World Cup, there was a tent put here and a projector. We watched the matches here and had fun,” he says.

A bus conductor, Segun Ajani, has not ceased to marvel at the transformation of the Marina and its environs. He says, “I am not happy with the way that the police raid us here. It is not fair. Some of us live in far places, we might decide to relax here. Then we get picked up. It was very terrible under the flyover. Buses used to park there and it was filthy. Refuse was everywhere but since it has been rehabilitated; everywhere is clean and pleasant. It is especially beautiful at night.”

Also, Aliyu Ibrahim wants the beautification project to be sustained by the government.

“My job here is to ensure that nobody destroys the plants. If this place is not supervised, it would be destroyed soon. I make sure that nobody urinates under the bridge or defecate. I do all this to maintain the clean standard that has been introduced to Marina. I knew how this place was before now. It was a rough area, with unruly drivers parking anyhow. I like the way this place is. It is very wonderful the way this place is now,” he says.