In this report, Yinka Olaito went to Alausa Ikeja, which is the seat of Lagos State Government, to see what life looks like for average person in the midst of opulence
Alausa Ikeja
Alausa Ikeja is a prominent town/district in Ikeja. Being the seat of Lagos state government, it was initially called Alawusa. There are conflicting history to its proper meaning. Some folks believe it has to do with first settlement of Hausa communities which made the original landowners to be referred to as ‘owner of Hausas’.
A related fact, which had been shared by a late community leader, Pa Odewale, was once quoted as saying that Alausa was an initial settlement of two warrior settlers from Nupe and Hausa. Hence some of the major streets names are associated with war patriarchs: Jogunomi, Odewale and Bashorun.
Another attribution is that the initial land owners were walnut traders or farmers. Alausa land space is calculated to be about seventy acres. Situated at north-eastern part of Ikeja Local government and bound at the east by Oregun and on the west by Agindigbi and Ogba.
Seat of power and relaxation
The seat of Lagos power or governance centre, Lagos State Secretariat, is within the Alausa community. Lagos state secretariat stands like a tower at the heart of the settlement. Located along Obafemi Awolowo way and spread through to Mobolaji Johnson Avenue, the secretariat has several buildings, which comprise of several Ministries and parastatals. Most of the buildings are in great shape, well-maintained and betray the beauty of the seat of power of an aquatic splendour. Lagos indeed is for show and this reflects in some of the buildings. The old governor’s office popularly called Round House still has a lot of appeal.
The new governor office and legislative complex, which also have few quarters that serve as office complex and governor’s house built during Raji Fashola regime has a lot of appeal to a first timer. And just opposite that is a recreation centre where Lagosians from all walk of life converge during weekends and public holidays. The recreation centre is a place of fun and relaxation at its peak. It is also a place to connect and search for potential relationships.
On a regular day or weekend, the relaxation centre can be scanty unlike when there is a public holiday. This reporter went on a visit on a regular weekend and could only see few lovers sitting and sharing communion. A good thing is that the place is free of miscreants. We talked to one fun seeker simply known as sola who said, “The place has become a place of dream for him as it affords him opportunity to unwind and get some fresh air when the time can permit”.
Seat of pain
Just few metres away from the imposing governor’s office and legislative complex is the office of Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Task Force. This is one of the most dreaded building around the Secretariat environment. Not many Lagosians desire to have anything to do with this office or the beings that operate in it.
Lagos Environmental and Special Offences Task Force Office
It is better to drive or walk through this office located along governor’s road and by Ibile Oil and Gas Corporation than to experience what an average motorist goes through if by ‘act of error or omission’ to have any form of business deal around the office.
The officers here are not smiling at all. No one gets here and walks away smiling irrespective of your genuine excuse. If by act of omission, your motor is seized and it is tolled to the office, you will be lucky if what you part away with is less than thirty thousand (N30.000.) Naira. In fact, the earlier you can raise the money and pay the better for you. Some of the worst days you do not want to fall victim, if you are a motorist or motor owner in Lagos, are early in the morning, especially on Mondays or anytime on Fridays.
We spoke to a motorist who claimed he came to drop his wife in Ketu for an engagement and was returning to Ajah around 630am but saw some passengers going his way whom he picked to make some quick change from at the 7Up bus stop only to be told he did not properly packed and hence his car was tolled to the Task Force office.
He was begging but all his appeals fell into deaf ears. Just by his side, another victim was telling him to look for the money and pay otherwise the more he delayed the more his chances of getting his car back as it may be confiscated and auctioned.
Officers in this office do not ‘look at faces’. Cry if you want, paying the charges is the only remedy that gets the necessary attention. Many of the victims’ complaint of Lagos revenue drive which is driving many crazy.
A man was sharing how his friend had to move back to the village after he took loans to start transport business but his two drivers pushed him into trouble with the Lagos traffic Taskforce after illegal packing etc and the two buses were confiscated and auctioned because he did not raise money for the offences committed.
Luxury, and beauty
Alausa is not all about pain too. The other side of Alausa community, which is referred to as Central Business District(CBD) is a good place to behold. It is not just the CBD that is good. The area housing a major shopping Mall and its surrounding, Kaffi, Iyalla street and many others add the beauty and luxury to Alausa community.
There are several banks, hotels, corporate organizations within this vicinity. The beauty of the area is seen in the night. In some of the streets, street lights are functional. If in doubt, just drive through the governor’s road and many major streets around the areas in the night. Most of the roads are well maintained bereft of potholes and the likes.
In fact, if this area is a sample of Lagos, no one will complain. The only clause is that property rent in this vicinity can be cut throat. People do acknowledge the cost is still cheaper than that of many high profile estates in Ikoyi, Lekki , Ajah etc.
A shop owner, retailer of household items popularly known as ‘Mummy Favour’ said “No one wants to miss the opportunity offered by this environment despite the relatively high cost, we do not have any outbreak of theft or burglar as state security personnel patrol this place often”.
“Business here is not also bad, if you open your shop on time, you can make a good sale because of volume of human traffic around the area’’, says Mummy Favour.
The presence of Africa Shrine at this other side of Alausa CBD also adds some level of beauty and fun life to the area. Africa shrine has its shades of people, especially when there is live show or major event like ‘Felabration’ A quick warning though, is that if you are truly not a fan of drug or smoke -filled air, the environment may not be the right place to be in the night when there are shows or major events.
Drug, lewd live and several shades.
Right there at the heart of Alausa is the Alausa community proper. The CBD contrasts what an average person will witness by just driving ten minutes away from the governor’s office either through kaffi street or the other end along Simbiat Abiola way by Alausa bus stop along Oregun road. Kadiri, Ajenifuja, Odewale, Jogunosimi, Makinde among many others are like a village or overcrowded ghetto.
Kadiri street that is tarred. The others, especially Odewale, makinde and Jogunosimi street roads are in a sorry state. The mini-market in Odewale street in Alausa offers a little succour to residents who cannot go as far as Oregun Market or Mile 12.
A major concern for some residents in these streets though is that it is a rendezvous for all manner of people, drugs, sex hawkers and many vices. Depending on the mood of the ‘boys’, a resident who does not want to be identified for safety reason told our reporter ‘the boys can wake you up with loud music or shootings’. Right from 4am or 530am.
Boys openly using drug in Makinde street very close to Alausa Central Mosque
Some of these, shouting, loud music, are product of being ‘high’ on drugs. Sometimes there could be disagreements or arguments among the boys that they are trying to settle.
Just down that same corridor, all forms of games and betting shops littered the place. With these are all manner of girls parading as sex workers in a rundown hotel for ‘quick action’.
The sort of life here can be of major concern, misleading and disgusting. “You can, especially in the morning hour find someone just dancing or talking to himself in these notorious streets” so says another shop owner on the street who wants to remain anonymous too.
A resident, in Kadiri street also affirmed “Yes unlike Oshin street, within the same Alausa vicinity, just behind ours, lives here have different shades. To raise a child here, a parent must be intentional otherwise it is easier to pick negatives vices up here”.
Hotel in Kadiri street
Another resident says “the good thing though is that the ‘boys’ always stay on their lane, they hardly harass anyone and they can serve as protective guards anytime there is trouble’’. This particular resident cited the time of COVID-19 welfare loot saga that was taken advantage of by some notorious bad boys. She said “these boys resisted every attempt by external forces to invade the community and especially that of the house of a former governor’s mother house”.
Right there in the midst of this chaos, especially in Kadiri street, there is a government well maintained Primary health facility. Though it appears not well patronised either because of shortage of staff or dispensary drugs.
The three most feared streets in Alausa are Kadiri, Ajenifuja(close junction to Olaiya street) and Makinde (by Alausa Central Mosque). Drug use and abuse are done in an open glare anytime of the day. But another resident out of concern told us “Drug use here seems like a spiritual issue. For Kadiri and Ajenifuja, many churches had come here to do crusades. A wealthy woman had even come with all sorts of helps to rehabilitate and give some helps to these boys, but in a matter of days, they usually return to their old lifestyles”.
Not all is gloom
Alausa on the other side of the CBD, as we may acknowledge has its own beauty and splendour. Some streets like Oshin, Taiwo close, Iyalla, Olaiya, Sunday Adigun and Kaffi are good to behold. May be the location of the house of late Iyaloja of Lagos, Alhaja Timubu, who also doubled as the mother of the former Lagos governor is an added advantage.
Taiwo close street
The solar street lights work well here. The road networks are also maintained. The security around the area is also top notched. We think that is the reason Kadiri and Ajenifuja boys are also non-violent. Odewale and Jogunosimi streets are not free of its own radicals too. It does appear wherever the poor reside majorly comes with base vices
Alausa, no matter what we say, exposes a juxtaposition of life, A home of beauty. luxury, drugs abuse, poverty and associated vices. It does capture the life of a rose enclosed in a thorn. Life does come with mystery man may not be able to resolve indeed. Suffering in the midst of plenty.
