Victoria Island, Lagos courtesy News Rescue
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) aired Welcome to Lagos, the first part of a third part documentary on Nigerian Ghettos in Lagos City on April 15. Akin Ojumu reviewed ‘Welcome to Lagos’ days before it was aired in the Guardian (UK) and the Financial Times published an article on the business side of Olusosun slum. Would you call that promoting or degrading Nigeria?
The second part of the documentary was aired on April 22 and the final part is to be aired on April 29 on BBC2 at 9pm. According to The Punch, the Federal Government of Nigeria, protested against the documentary and the High Commissioner of Nigeria to the United Kingdom, Dr Dalhatu Sarki Tafida ‘conveyed’ a letter to the BBC2 controller. The documentary was believed to have portrayed Nigeria as a nation of slums with cracks and crevices and people living in penury.
Why should a medical doctor, former federal minister cum diplomat like Dr Tafida be the ‘conveyor’ of such complaints? The appropriate authority to complain to is the Office of Communications (Ofcom), which is the Telecom, TV and Radio regulator. What was also embarrassing to some Nigerians was the fact that the complaint came a day before the second part of the documentary was aired.
When the BBC Hausa Service (in Nigeria) aired a fake telephone conversation with ailing President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, the Federal Government (FG) did not complain to the BBC. The American Chronicle claimed that a voice changer software was used by an impersonator to speak like Yar’Adua. It will be recalled that Nigerian broadcaster cum musician and actress, Onyeka Onwenu presented a BBC documentary, “titled The Squandering Of The Riches, a critical look at the management of the Nigerian economy” in 1985.
The development of Lagos is more important than 'filing' complaints because the world has a right to know the truth about Nigeria. The federal revenue allocation to Lagos State should be increased because Lagos is reputed to become the third largest city in the world by 2015. The Federal Account Allocation Committee should be more transparent with the excess crude oil account. Disclosing annual figures is not enough! Nigeria is a very good country that has suffered from bad leadership, kleptocracy, poverty, lack of infrastructural development and information to the outside world. Even the government owned satellite TV station NTAi (Sky Channel 202) is off air and nobody cares.
Instead of the FG to read and comment on a specific publication on Nigeria it preferred to 'pick' on the BBC. The publication does not portray Nigeria as it is. The publishers claimed that a research was conducted but it is far below the standard of adequate research. It lacked modern photographs of the country and junior Nigerians were ‘visualized’ as kids without shoes etc. AIDS was portrayed as the major health problem in the country. Nigeria complained about Sony's PS3 Slim advertisement and Sony apologized. Nigeria also complained about the film District 9 in 2009. The Information Minister, Professor Dora Akunyili said, "the film portrays Nigerians as cannibals, criminals and prostitutes”.
Welcome to Lagos became the most talked about documentary in recent times. One of the scavengers of Olusosun rubbish dump from Ajegunle ghetto, singer Eric Obuh aka Vocal Slender became famous overnight. He is now on Facebook with over 600 friends. He is currently paying a five year debt as a compensation for allegedly plucking the eye of his opponent, who broke a bottle on his head in a brawl. He claimed that another guy that supported him in the fight did it. The documentary has introduced Lagos to the rest of the world. Last year, Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola of Lagos State revealed his plans for a transformation of Lagos State into EKO Atlantic City.
Lagos megacity is one of the world’s fastest growing urban centers. The UN-Habitat (2006) estimated the city’s population to be about 15 million in 2006 with 600,000 million additional migrants added each year and projected its population to reach 20.2 million by 2010.
—Framework for City Risk Assessment (2009, p.29)
Wole Soyinka attacks BBC portrayal of Lagos 'pit of degradation'
More knocks for BBC documentary on Lagos
'Lagos is not a slum city'
How to transform Makoko
Part 2 of Welcome to Lagos is on Makoko slum in Lagos State. The government could build decent houses and relocate the inhabitants. It would not be easy to relocate the mini factory owners who have made millions of Naira by trading there. Well, relocate those that are ready for new means of livelihood with additional 'compensation'.
The dilapidated shacks could be transformed into beautiful chalets on water. Tourism of that nature will generate extra revenue for the state. It would also create employment. Makoko hotel and holiday resorts built on stilts would be wonderful, with nightclubs et al. The people that travel to the West Indies on holidays may also love to travel to Lagos in future.
By the time architects redesign Makoko, it may end up looking like a mini Venice in Italy, simply beautiful and breathtaking… Lovers, especially honeymooners may also love my imagination of a new Makoko, wouldn’t you? On the other hand, Makoko.org has a proposal for Makoko slum (on water), especially the fishing community aka Slum Venice.
The untimely death of Nigerian grassroots rapper Olaitan Oladapo Olaonipekun aka Dagrin, a few days after he had a car accident in Lagos was shocking. From the photographs of the wreckage, it was obvious that he was badly injured as reported by the press but he died last Thursday at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital.
According to GoneTooSoon, Dagrin, 23, was born on 02/02/1987 and hailed from Owu in Ogun State. He became popular after his ‘collaboration’ with YQ in the track 'Efi mile'. He was once on Liz Yemoya Show (BEN TV Sky – Channel 184) and told her that he did not belong to the Afro hip-hop genre although he rapped a lot in Yoruba language.
His second and last CD, CEO aka Chief Executive Omoita became popular with hits like Pon Pon Pon and Kondo. He also featured with other Nigerian artistes like Sossick, Omawumi, Kenny Saint Brown, 9ice, Terry G, JJC, Konga, Sheyman, T-Code, TuStep, Remi Aluko, 2Koncept, Rymzo de Gusto, Oritse Femi, Oluwe, Teeblaq, Fresh, Owen Gee, Lala, Mitchella, K09DZ, Iceberg Slim, Kode and Dark Poet.
He was expected to perform at the Coko Bar.Com Music Festival in London on 31 May 2010 before he died. According to his lyrics in Ghetto Dream ft. Sossick, he admired Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome and Brazilian footballer Kaká. In Efi mile feat YQ, he rapped about people that said he would not live long and questioned what would happen if he continued to live. Well, songs don't die. Rest in Peace.
VIDEO: New York City Pays Tribute to DaGrin
Dagrin’s last words: ‘Tell my fans I love them’
Dad: We all loved Dagrin, but God loves him more
Liz Yemoja interviews DaGrin
