LAGOS BEACH LIFE
Although not mentioned in my previous 'blog page post',
there are other environmental factors affecting the beach life, not just within
and around Lekki-beach, but other beach resorts in Lagos, Nigeria.
Album Cover #TheLagosTheme | Agu Anumudu
Discovering these environmental
issues around the beach wasn't rocket science; the evidence was clearly obvious
for me to observe. Thus I immediately started documenting with my Instagram;
the first scene was the Shipwrecks across the shoreline. They seemed to
complement the beach at first glance, sort of reminded me of old epic movies on
Shipwrecks in fantasy treasure Islands. Not quite what you'd conclude when you
think of the damages Shipwrecks cause on our beach resorts in Lagos.
A #Shipwreck abandoned along the Lekki-beach shoreline [The Lagos Theme]
Erosion is a serious factor
affecting the Lekki-beach shoreline; it is caused by water, particularly in the
form of waves. Shipwrecks however, are the major cause of the erosion taking
place on the Lekki-beach shoreline, it "prevents the normal flow of water,
causing erosion instead of an even distribution of sand along the
shorelines" (www.thisdaylive.com), as agreed by environmental activist Mr
Desmond Majekodunmi.
Mr
Desmond Majekodunmi being interviewed on "Keeping Lagos Clean"
Mr. Desmond whom I met at
Silverbird (the seaside station) after an interview on climate change in a
morning program at Silverbird station asserts that "although Global
Warming largely contributes to the beach erosion, Shipwrecks remain the pin
stuck in the foot". He went on saying; "and what do you do to a pin
stuck in your foot before heading to be treated at the Hospital?" and I
replied, "remove it!".
It all started to make more sense
to me; immediate actions needs to be taken by the Lagos state government to
eradicate Shipwrecks abandoned across the Lagos shorelines (if that's the least
they can do), and that is what Mr Desmond Majekodunmi is fighting for.
Desmond
Majekodunmi (2nd right) at Lekki/Alpha Beach on Monday
July 18, 2011
Alright already, enough about
Shipwrecks, erosion and climate change, the next scene was just around the
corner which rendered me breathless; 'the refuse dumps'. Although this seemed
to be the case in every other beach resort I visited in Lagos, it's quite sad
and unfortunate to witness such sight in a beautiful beach resort such as
Lekki-beach. The saddest part is that it can easily be disposed of by the
locals living there, but that's not the case, I could have paid the locals to
have it disposed of but unfortunately, i was informed it's a waste point. I was
totally baffled; *thinking*... this could actually be a nice spot for some cool
refreshments (the boldly printed Fanta Logo says it all), not a 'refuse
dump'!!! *shrug*, the photo is contrastively "FANTAstic".
Lekki-Beach, Lagos: #'FANTAstic' [The Lagos Theme]
Moving onto the next scene was
"The Great Wall of Lekki Beach", located a few minutes’ walk away
from the shore; it can be seen from any point of the resort. Its majestic
structure was built to a monstrous proportion so to intimidate its observers
(due to land dispute; check our Instagram for more information on the land
dispute). The stench along its sides however, was a constant distraction as I
got closer to observe...
@Slumbook5: #picoftheday "The Great Wall of #LekkiBeach", Lagos [The Lagos Theme]
I personally can't handle this smell, off to the next trip!!!
"The HIGHTS of Lekki Express-way" #TheLagosTheme @Slumbook5 with #Instagram.
Thus
I drove down to Bar-beach, popularly known for its mega structures which
protect the city from the heavy wave currents, stumbled on a few interesting
things however... There was a football game at my arrival, quite an interesting
one due to the fact that it had players from all levels (lower to upper class)
of the city involved. To top it all up the goal posts were made of wood and
fish-nets (how creative), and stood upright like a Dog house. I just had to
title this scene "Bend it like Beckham".
#BenditlikeBeckham A local game of Football at the Bar-beach road, Victoria Island, Lagos [TheLagosTheme].
Behind the scene of this very
social football game was a whole different ball-game entirely, 'the homeless'.
Fortunately for me I wasn't alone on this risky journey, had an army escort and
my brother (Agu) alongside as we ventured into this next scene. It was my first
time climbing these mega walls built to protect the city from heavy wave
currents, then suddenly from the blues we encountered (well not aliens this
time around) three (no, not the three wise men) adorable 'kids on dreads'. Even
"Clement" the military man found them so adorable he had us take a
picture portrait of him and three of the dread kids.
Clement and the three dread kids at Bar-beach, Lagos [The Lagos Theme]
A different dread kid we met seemed a bit older than the
other three and was quite skeptical about us having a picture of him, but I
offered him a 'hundred Nigerian bucks' for a quickie (don't get it twisted)!
Dread kid: "errrm OK!" He struck a 'quick' pose and we were off to
the next scene; "Bar-beach Life on Crack".
#Picoftheday Rasta-Boy chilling at Bar-Beach shore | Agu Anumudu [The Lagos Theme]
"Bar-beach Life on Crack"
"Bar-Beach Life - On Crack" is an Artistic way in illustrating the life Locals here at the beach live, located just a few minutes’ walk from one of the most prestigious Hotels in Lagos, Eko Hotel and Suites; the beach diminishes our status in Tourism. Many of the locals here have lost all hope on living a decent life ever since the Lagos state government imposed a closure on Kuramo beach (an impoverished beach resort next to Bar-beach) occupancy in 2012. Having lost their homes to the closure, there is little or no option for them than to relocate to other beach resorts. Majority of them after the closure turned the ‘walls’ of Bar-beach built to protect the City’s coastline into squatting grounds as there are no other places for them to go. Hard drugs such as "crack" cocaine and others are frequently sold and used here by the Locals; Thus I thought it would be best to have a cracked screen before them in order to simplify my illustration.
"Bar-beach Life on Crack" [The Lagos Theme]
That’s the end of my Lagos beach
tour, I do however plan on extending my journey of beach tour to further
locations with time, for now, it's adiós amigos...
SOURCE:
A Marathon Race to
Save Lagos Shorelines, 10 Oct 2012 http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/a-marathon-race-to-save-lagos-shorelines/127300/
COPYRIGHT: @Slumbook5: Please, you have no right to use any photos of Slumbook5 for any sort of commercial purpose; All rights reserved by Slumbook Ent.
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