THE HIGHWAY RUNNERS.

A man was knock down on this spot recently, by a high speed car, he has a long road of recovery to make.

Despite the Lagos State government' s enforcement and campaigns, the highway runners still persist in their deadly quest to make a quick dash across the road in front of dangerous traffic.

Welcome to the Okota-cele express bus stop in Lagos State Nigeria...

The Government spent money to build this pedestrian bridge for people to cross the road in safety but some of this people don't see the need for the bridge.

Whenever we try to ask a risk taker why they prefer to face traffic danger instead of using the bridge, they just laugh or smile it off. One man said, the stairs in the ped-x bridge are too many, another said, the stress of climbing it is too difficult and wastes time.

But that little time and stress spent in climbing the bridge, might just save a life.

The worst case I have seen was a woman that crossed her 4 little kids. I held my breadth tight as she and those little kids made the cross.

When I questioned her of the danger, she just said, I am too tired to climb.

I wished the Local Council guys were around to arrest her.

Although several arrest are made, but still dose n't deter people. I  think stiffer sanctions for offenders should be applied.

THE LAGOS STATE NEW POLICE CARS

 This is a departure from the old order when Nigerian police cars are only pick up vans like the Toyota Hilux, Ford Ranger and Mitsubishi Pick ups.

Too bad for their sluggish appeal.
Enter the new patrol cars for the Lagos State Police Command.
I have seen the Ford Focus and the Toyota Corolla, modern, cream white color, body marked stripes, toll and serial numbers.

The RRS.
Rapid Response Squad is the first Lagos State anti armed robbery busters, created in the 1990s by Military Administration of Colonel Marwa.
The RRS will be the first in line to use the modern cars for patrols.

Some police cars of some states in Germany.

 In Baden Wurrtenberg, the police use the Mercedes Benz E class and the Bavaria the police use the BMW.
Well, they are rich, hence they can afford luxury brands.

The other Police Command

We also want more states in Nigeria to adapt to decent cars in their patrol duties, especially the oil rich states of Delta, Rivers, Bayelsa, Cross Rivers and Akwa Ibom.

Maintenance and Spares

Keeping the new patrol cars clean and in good working condition means maintenance should be a top priority for th officers assigned to those cars.
In my opinion, using several brand makes of cars is going to pose challenge in availability of spare parts and mastery of repairs.
Most police departments all over the world stick one brand make for this reason.

Even in military Aviation, the need to maintain similar platforms stem from this consideration of spare parts and maintenance.
An example is the Lockheed C-130 Transport Aircraft.

I wish the Anambra state police command leads the way by purchasing IVM cars for patrol and personnel transport.

In so doing, most states in the eastern Nigeria, will follow cause.

G Wagon 6 by 6. A Necessary Intimidation.

The strength of the 6 by 6 AMG

The BRABUS B 63 S700

The BRABUS version

THE SON OF CONCORD IS UNDERWAY.

The AS2 Supersonic private jet can take you from New york to London in 4.5 hours.
CNN says, when you absolutely, positively must eat breakfast in NY followed by launch in London, there are currently no many options.
The supersonic private jet is a joint project involving AERION Corp and AIRBUS.
FLEXJET business jet operator has placed order for 20,  at $ 120 m per aircraft.
Initial test flights are expected in 2021 and followed by delivery in 2023.
This is a big step towards reality in the not too distant future.
News source is from CNN.

See the type of cars Nigerian political leaders love to use.

Range Rover Vogue

Mercedes Benz S Class

Lexus LX

From the Presidency, State Governors,Federal Ministers, Legislatures and the Judiciary.
Nigerian leaders are known for their preference for luxury cars.

We stand by Paris

A survivor said-
They, ( the attackers) did n't understand that this was a multi cultural area where Jews, Christians and Muslims all mix.

patronising the IVM cars.

 The cars are beautiful with modern looks, appeal and gadgets.

 The government of Nigeria can make it a priority for every Ministry, Department and Agency to buy IVM brand cars for Executive, Personnel and Utility purposes.

That's one benefit IVM should get because it is made in Nigeria.
If we buy more cars from IVM, we help to keep the jobs of their workers secured.

We do not expect the Americans to drop their Cadillac in preference for a Mercedes Benz as Executive transport car for President Obama...

And the Trains are back in Nigeria

I grew up to reach twenty something years old before I saw the first moving train in Nigeria.

The only Train.
Running from Ebute Metta-Yaba-Sango Ota was the only operational Rail Line route as what most people can conclude.
Other tracks and routes have been left abandoned, neglected and seemed forever impossible tthat Trains will connect the vast land scape of Nigeria again.

The Story.
The first Rail Road in Nigeria was constructed by the British colonial
government in 1898.
By October 3, 1912 the Lagos government Rail Way and the Kano- Baro Rail Way were amalgamated, thus began the Government Department of Railways. After the passing of the Nigeria Railway Corporation act of 1955, the Nigeria Railway Corporation was born.




Abandoned.
Lack of maintenance of Railway assets like tracks and locomotives, the Nigeria Railway Corporation was left for dead from the 1970s to the 2000s, with scanty or no operations in most route.

A bright future begins.
Since 2012-2013, passenger service returned to the Lagos- Kano route as the Government gives attention to the NRC with some foreign assistance.
Although the service may be laden with some challenges and imperfections for now but the big news is that soon, the Trains are goin to be linked to the sea ports in Lagos and Port Harcourt for effective movement of passengers, goods and fuel from south to north of the Country.
As time goes on, the Nigeria Railway Corporation would begin to fulfill it's full obligations to support land transportation in Nigeria.

Additional contributions from Wikipedia.

Open Manholes.

 A cyclist fell into this manhole and broke his leg.

 A manhole is an opening to an underground chamber or a confined space that give access for maintenance or installations of cables or utilities.

In Lagos,most manholes that serve this purpose have either been abandoned or such cables or utilities underneath are no more in use.

During road construction activity, newly constructed manholes are left opened for many weeks and months, posing great danger to pedestrains, motorists and riders.

Relevant construction companies and the government should ensure the prompt closure of manholes before they cause more damage to vehicles, motor cycles and even injuries to pedestrains.

flying In the RAIN. Safe or Unsafe.

Your flight may be delayed, but such delay will affect other flights and not yours alone.

Thunder storms contain high speed variable winds that are dangerous to aircrafts, your pilot knows this so he won't be flying you into a thunder storm.

Pilots won't take off if a thunder storm is directly on the departure path or if one is around the airport.

Pilots won't take off into heavy precipitation (heavy rains) even if there is no thunder storm involved.

Once your aircraft has gained altitude, heavy rains is not a big problem.

It is during take off and landing that a pilot needs to avoid the possibility of strong down drafts (movement of air downwards) which are associated with heavy rains.

There is nothing to bother much.
Your flight might only be delayed and you arrive late at your destination.

Relax, sit back and enjoy the flight.

Danger Voyage

Even if they are running away from Conflicts, War Zones, Famine, Unemployment, Political Persecution, or just to seek the Better Life, the choice of medium illegal immigrants employ are getting more dangerous. 

Africans fleeing from Africa for any reason will use some of these methods;
1. Trekking through the desert.

2. Camels and Donkeys.
3. Using even paddle boats to cross the straits of Gilbrata into Spain.

Illegal migration is expensive, unsafe, and most important, you are not guaranteed you will make it successfully to your destination.

Many illegal immigrants hav lost their lives in those dangerous journeys or branch out to become armed bandits, or sold out as slaves or sex workkers.

They are, in some cases, attacked by bandits and armed thieves.

Illegal travellers also suffer in the hands of corrupt and wicked customs officials, w caught in illegal entry points of such Countries.

Now is the time for the World to act now by discouraging people from embarking on journeys of no return.

I will be back soon

I was away and out of station this long.
But I promise to be back soon t keep you posted of local transport stories.
Thanks for been here with me.

The TOP VIEW delivery method

AC vents, Panel doors in the Lekki Colliseum

Golden Tulip's Reception

I saw the delivery method used by TOP VIEW PROMOTIONS LIMITED in transporting a set of neatly packaged Kitchen Cabinet, so I decided to question them.

Fitted Kitchen cabinet with profile doors

Leather padded bed with high headboard

Conference Table

Fitted Kitchen Cabinet

ABOUT TOP VIEW PROMOTIONS LIMITED

Makers of Kitchen Cabinets, Wardrobes, Sofas, Settee, Beds, Class Room Desks, Imported Turkey Doors, Wooden Panel Doors, Bar, Reception, Architectural Design, etc.


QUALITY AND STANDARDS

This is the result of Team work and cooperation with other Engineers on site, says Mr Godwin Equere, the Team Director, as he shares his secrets with me.

* TOP VIEW PROMOTIONS assesses its subcontractors and purchases only from those that can          satisfy our quality requirements, purchasing documents clearly and completely describes ordered        products including quality requirements.
* Strict adherence to applicable and engineering specifications is mandatory in all manufacturing          operations.
* All work orders must be accompanied by Quality Control approved blueprints and paper work            necessary to assure the product is manufactured to a Customer's requirements and guidelines.

Imported Turkey doors

Semi solid core door.

Wardrobe with profile doors

Wardrobe with profile doors

Flush door undergoing edgebinding

Edgeband Machine

TOP VIEW PROMOTIONS LIMITED does all this
to keep a client or customer satisfied. I think it's cool.
Dazzol.

Factory
9 Ademola Oki street,
Aguda Surulere,
Lagos State,
Nigeria.
08023082459
08186006379
godwinequere@yahoo.com

Simbi sits by the aircraft window

They shared foods and drinks inside the airplane for us, Simbi tells her friend Amina. She ask what kind of food or what type of food, Simbi is confused, dose n't know what to answer.

Anyway as I was saying, the pilot started the aircraft and revved the engines like he was driving a bus.

This was when my friend and I turned back from our highly concentrated game of chess to look at the two girls who would be in their late twenties of age, as they continue their discussion.


                                                               SIMBI
                                                            (continues)
The pilot reversed the aircraft, put it on gear one and moved us forward. You can notice the increase in speed as the pilot changes to gear two- three- four and the aircraft lifted up.
(Amina was very excited at the story, I and my friend looked at her helplessly)
                                                                
                                                               AMINA
Simbi so tell me, were you scared of flying.

                                                                SIMBI
No I cannot have phobia for flights. I have been flying in aircrafts since when I was five years old.

                                                                AMINA
I hope the pilot switched on the air conditioner due to the hot sun in the sky.

                                                                  SIMBI
The pilot did not switch on the AC, when I started feeling hot, I simply rolled down my window to allow cool fresh breeze blow into the aircraft. I even brought out my hand and collected some clouds, rubbing them on my face to have a cool relaxed flight.

                                                                  AMINA
Wow that was cool.

We interrupted them and asked Simbi to stop the story for Amina's sake and advised her- An aircraft's window cannot be rolled down and if it got broken in mid air flight, the aircraft will loose pressure and may crash.

Amina looked at Simbi in awe.
Simbi just concurred with us by saying- I was only sharing the story of my dream I had last night with Amina.

Amina is still more confused, My friend and I went back to our game.

The Lagos Bus Rapid Transit system.

A BRT bus in a bus station

Introduction

Popularly called BRT buses with their special concrete barrier paved and marked lanes.
Due to the heavy traffic, too many car owners that put millions of cars daily on the Lagos roads, the usually rash driven yellow volks wagen danfo buses and their hustile conductors and drivers.
The Lagos State government saw the need to put up a well organized, decent Rapid Bus system that will be neat, air conditioned. ticket entry and comfortable for commuters in the state.
You don't have to put your private car on the road everyday and face traffic challenges as the BRT buses have dedicated traffic lanes that are usually traffic free, safe and decent bus stops.

The Operators

The two operators of the Lagos Bus Rapid Transit are the NURTW and LAGBUS, the Lagos owned Assets Management Company.
Seven years down the line, the BRT buses move more than one million people across various routes daily.

The Soldiers are there

To ensure the dedicated lanes for the BRT are kept traffic free at all times, the LASTMA are placed on guard, warning off or penalizing stubborn cars and yellow buses.

A uniformed army sergeant once had a quarrel with some men of LASTMA about violations and also an army colonel showed understanding when his car was stopped on a BRT dedicated lane,
 Nowadays, more senior government officials and top politicians are now avoiding driving their cars on BRT Lanes.

The future

The BRT buses have come to stay even as the government is expanding it's operations in the suburbs.
The next time you want to go to work or keep up early with an appointment, use a BRT bus.

A BRT bus driving in its dedicated lane as other cars lost time in heavy traffic

MY FRIEND'S BLACK TOYOTA COROLLA

We decided to go to the gym at Adetola street in Surulere, Lagos. After the game of chess, the time was 8:30 pm, traffic was still heavy as various motors struggled to drive through the cele bus stop T junction.
It was very tight.

A red hatch back car showed up just as we wanted to turn right at the T junction, the red car, driven by a woman was headed for straight way.
Somebody once said that it's very hard for a woman on steering to give way for another car to pass in front of her. This was the exact discussion my friend and i were engaged in.
As both cars came close, there was a scratch...
When i was a little boy, we had wondered why when two cars had a scratch, they would exchange body panel colors.
My friend screamed- she has scratched my car and painted me red.
The woman drove away not even bothered to check for any damage.
My friend's corolla now has a red colored patch on it's front bumper.

Oh i forgot to add.

My father once drove a Toyota Corolla in precisely 1976 when i was still a small boy.