Mega-cities & mega-structures: Nigeria is next

There has been a lot of remarkable change in the attitude of Nigerians towards work and service since President Muhammad Buhari was given the mandate (of reform) on 29th of May, 2015. Hopes have been very high and after only a few days in office, the president has changed the direction of the tide; from […]

There has been a lot of remarkable change in the attitude of Nigerians towards work and service since President Muhammad Buhari was given the mandate (of reform) on 29th of May, 2015. Hopes have been very high and after only a few days in office, the president has changed the direction of the tide; from flowing towards destruction to flowing towards greatness. There is therefore the hope that this on-going change will be reflected in the physical outlook of Nigerian cities.
Taking a trip to the First World countries, development is not only evident in the lifestyle and well-being of the citizens but also in the physical outlook of the countries. Their ultra-modern, impeccably neat cities fashioned by complex road grids, expert incorporation of nature and exquisite architecture speak of nothing other than development.
Having boasted for years about being ‘the giant of Africa’ even with its various deficiencies, it is time Nigeria took its rightful place in the continent and in the world at large. Nigeria undoubtedly has the great potential of being the tourist and commercial centre of Africa; a centre which will attract tourists and investors from within and without Africa. As colossal as this venture may sound, it might not be too difficult to achieve.
To start with, ensuring that cities are kept clean, habitable and immaculate will do Nigeria a lot of good. This alone can uplift the outlook and aesthetic level of the country to record heights. I wonder why Nigeria does not bear the name ‘Sandyland’ or ‘Sandaria;’ even the most prestigious neighbourhoods have heaps of soil delineating pathways and ‘embellishing’ doorsteps. In many European countries, streets are being cleaned and washed by vehicles that are said to have the ability to vacuum debris as minute as 10 micrometres or less. This is a total contrast to the situation in Nigeria whereby cities’ cleanliness depends on the feeble strengths of hungry road sweepers. In addition, using roadsides as toilets, disposing of refuse in inappropriate places and running gutters through courtyards are not strange sights in Nigeria. Apart from the more pressing health hazards these habits expose people to, the physical image of the country is being tarnished.
Countries in Scandinavia are so garbage-free; they purchase garbage from neighbouring countries. This purchased garbage is used as fuel for power generation, thereby giving them triple benefits – clean cities, warmth in winter and electricity. In Calgary, Canada’s oil capital, thousand-dollar fines are charged for dropping cigarette butts or throwing rubbish out of a car window. Singapore also fines people for putting spent chewing gum anywhere other than a bin and for failing to flush a public lavatory.
Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, is an epitome of an unbelievably pristine city. After a careful study and analysis of the adverse effects of plastic bags on the environment, the Rwandan government completely banned them. This ban claims a lot of credit for Kigali’s immaculate condition.
Rwanda is nowhere near Nigeria in prestige, image and wealth. Thus, Nigeria has no business being dirty. Some parts of India today have adopted a more innovative solution to the plastic nuisance; a solution much akin to the waste recycling scheme in Scandinavia. Bitumen technology is used on waste plastic for road construction. These waste plastics are collected from a variety of products, ranging from poly-bags to biscuit packets. There have been claims that there is no maintenance cost involved for the first five years after construction of these roads.
Mega-cities are not only impeccably clean; they are inundated with mega-structures. According to Louis Kahn, one of the greatest architects of all times; “A great building must begin with the immeasurable, must go through measurable means when it is being designed and in the end must be immeasurable.” In Japan, the people are so obsessed with aesthetics; even the hoarding barriers placed around buildings being demolished are attractive.
Great architectural buildings are responsible for the formation of modern Dubai. In the early 1980s, Dubai was a mere centre for pearling and fishing. Today Dubai is among the most admired mega-cities in the world. The Burj Al Arab is reckoned to be ‘the symbol of Dubai’ just as the Pyramids of Giza are to Egypt, The Eiffel Tower to Paris, the Opera House to Sydney, the Beijing stadium to China, the Taj Mahal to India and nothing to Nigeria.
The Opera House in Sydney is one of the world’s most recognised tourist attractions. This gorgeous masterpiece comprises multiple performance venues. It has been reported that this building hosts over 1,500 performances each year attended by approximately 1.2 million people.
Furthermore, this building is visited by more than seven million people each year and 300,000 others participating annually in a guided tour. The amount of money these tourists take into Sydney is not known but is for sure a colossal amount. Let’s not forget that The Dubai Mall claims a whopping 3 million visitors per month.
In addition to mega-structures, vegetation is a key feature of mega-cities. Today, some European cities are being referred to as garden cities. Any city without vegetation is just like the Sahara. Mexican architect Luis Barragan opines that architecture, landscaping and gardening are one and should not be divided. Plants and shrubs add to the beauty of a place if they are carefully selected before planting in a well-designed pattern along strategic locations.
Unfortunately, this is not the case in Nigeria. If planting is not done in such orderly manner, they could distort the looks of the greatest buildings and localities. Perhaps Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore understood the great psychological effects of plants better than most architects, city planners and psychologists.
Little wonder he ensured that roads linking airports to hotels were decorated with well-trimmed shrubs. With this, he was able to attract and keep visiting CEOs. The health, social and economic benefits of vegetation cannot be overemphasised. However, listing them here is impossible as it is beyond the scope of this write-up.
Tourism is among the major factors instigating the erection of mega-structures and creation of mega-cities. Many governments do not understand why a tourist economy is necessary. Without saying a word, Dubai could explain why. Andy Xie, a former economist with the IMF states that Chinese tourism was the factor that kept Hong Kong from recession.
According to reports from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), tourism’s contribution to global GDP grew by 3.2 per cent in 2012. This was higher than the entire world economy’s rate of growth. Especially in developing countries, tourism is no longer a mere niche product. In 2012, Latin America, Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa were among the fastest evolving destination markets, as the WTTC reports.
According to a Manual on Tourism and Poverty Alleviation, UNWTO and SNV (2010), in many countries, tourism acts as an engine for development through foreign exchange earnings and the creation of direct and indirect employment. Tourism contributes 5 per cent of the world’s GDP. It accounts for 6 per cent of the world’s exports in services being the fourth largest export sector after fuels, chemicals and automotive products.
Bello wrote in from Abuja