Apapa, Nigeria’s port city is not left out in the rude shock that greeted Nigerians in the early hours of today following the mindless and unpatriotic postponement of the presidential and National Assembly Elections by the nation’s electoral body, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The situation in Apapa this afternoon underpins the depth and dimension of what has become a national tragedy. Everybody including the rampaging trucks, their starry-eye and aggressive drivers, and the security agencies for whom Apapa’s misfortune is a great opportunity, are all quiet.
The port city, which other names are gridlock and congestion, is deserted. Almost the whole stretch of the Ijora Bridge, one of the two major routes to Apapa, is bereft of trucks which have made the bridge and the adjoining roads their permanent homes (parking bay), denying other road users access and despoiling not only the roads and bridges, but also the environment.
The few trucks on both Eko and Ijora Bridges, which could be counted off the fingers, are largely empty and sleeping, or so they seem.
It is really bad for all Nigerians that somebody or some people somewhere have frustrated their aspirations, but by reason of the unusual situation in Apapa, it seems to be worse for the security agencies and commercial motorcycle (Okada) riders for whom the misfortune of residents and businesses in Apapa means a great opportunity.
Okada economy is the only one thriving in Apapa while other businesses die or flee the port city at very great cost to their bottomline. The reason is simple. Without okada, navigating through Apapa gridlock could cost somebody a billion naira contract, business appointment of employment opportunity. It could also cost somebody his job. So, in spite of its imperfections and the huge risk, Okada is the way to go.
But today, as the country mourns the mindless rape on its democracy and assault on the collective sensibilities of the hapless citizens by a clique of self-seeking, self-serving and desperate elements, these beneficiaries of misfortune have gathered in groups chatting or, perhaps, strategizing on how to prey on their victims when Apapa, like other Nigerians, recovers from this shock.
CHUKA UROKO
