Adebowale Oke Roqeebat
Ikeja is often described as one of the major centres of Lagos. As the state capital and a busy commercial area, it attracts workers, business owners, visitors and residents from different parts of Lagos and beyond.
With its offices, markets, hotels, roads and growing number of businesses, it is easy to look at Ikeja and assume that everything is moving in the right direction.
But for many people who live and work here, the reality is more complicated.
One of the things that stands out in Ikeja is the pressure on basic infrastructure. The population keeps growing, businesses are expanding, and more people are using the roads and public spaces every day.
Yet, some parts of the community still struggle with poor drainage, traffic congestion, waste disposal and damaged roads.
During heavy rainfall, the condition of some roads becomes even more difficult, with flooding affecting movement and business activities.
Traffic is another issue that residents have become too familiar with.
Moving around Ikeja, especially during peak hours, can turn a short journey into a frustrating experience.
Commercial activities, roadside parking, poorly managed traffic points and the large number of vehicles using the area all contribute to the problem.
For workers who have to travel through Ikeja every day, the hours lost in traffic are not just inconvenient; they also affect productivity and family life.
Waste management also deserves more attention. It is not unusual to see waste around busy areas, particularly where commercial activities are concentrated.
While residents and business owners have a responsibility to dispose of their waste properly, government agencies also need to ensure that waste collection and enforcement are consistent.
Cleanliness should not only be emphasised when an important event is taking place or when officials are expected to visit.
There is also the question of public spaces. A modern community should have spaces where residents can relax, exercise and interact safely.
Ikeja has many commercial establishments, but the availability and maintenance of accessible public recreational spaces like parks or amusement centres should receive some attention.
Young people, children and older residents should not have to depend entirely on shopping centres and commercial venues for recreation.
However, it would be unfair to suggest that nothing is being done. Ikeja has experienced significant development over the years, and there are visible improvements on roads, businesses, transportation and other facilities.
The community also benefits from its position as an important business and administrative centre.
The presence of both public and private investments has created employment and business opportunities for many people.
The challenge is how to make this development more inclusive and sustainable. Development should not only be measured by the number of new buildings, offices or businesses.
It should also be measured by how easily ordinary people can move around, how safe the streets are, how clean the environment remains and whether residents can enjoy a reasonable quality of life.
Residents also have a role to play. Government cannot solve every community problem alone.
People must stop dumping refuse in drainage channels, obey traffic regulations and take responsibility for keeping their immediate environment clean.
Business owners should also understand that making a profit comes with a responsibility to the community where they operate.
What Ikeja needs is stronger cooperation between government, residents, businesses and community organisations.
Authorities should listen more closely to residents and respond to recurring problems rather than waiting until they become major crises.
At the same time, residents should be willing to support policies that improve the community, even when such policies require some personal adjustment.
Ikeja has the potential to be more than just a busy administrative and commercial centre.
It can become a community where development is visible not only in buildings and businesses but also in the everyday experiences of the people who live and work there.
The real test of development is simple: Can the ordinary resident feel the difference? If the answer is yes, then Ikeja is moving in the right direction. If not, there is still work to be done.
For a better society
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