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• LASPARK doesn’t joke with security arrangements, says GM
Lagos fun seekers expecting to experience the serenity and greenery at parks and gardens in the state have expressed worries over security issues around these facilities.
The state has about 327 parks and gardens, which are managed by Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency (LASPARK) and maintained statewide for people to go and relax.
Of theses, 212 were established by the state government, 85 by private concerns and 31 established in schools.
The number of public parks was recently increased with the inauguration of the Peace Park in the Ojota area of the state.
The state governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said the park would serve as a source of convergence, unity and tourist destination for residents, especially youths.
According to him, the state government made a commitment that it would designate a park dedicated to all who strive for the sustenance of peace and harmony in Lagos State.
“This space is deliberately named Peace Park because there are several key aesthetic elements that allude to the peaceful nature of residents of Lagos state.
”From the elevated garden mound with steps representing each colour of the Lagos state flag, with a ”Peace Symbol” at the top, to the Iconic Chair representing the warm hospitality of the people of Lagos,” he said.
Despite the beauty of these parks and gardens, residents, who spoke to The Guardian said they may shun the gardens and parks if there is no concrete arrangement as many of them have become safe havens for hoodlums.
It is not uncommon to see jobless youths loiter around these gardens in daylight, either sleeping under the bridges or on bare grasses.
These youths often smoke illicit drugs openly in the gardens and could attack unsuspecting passers-by.
In some cases, residents, who dare to visit these gardens, for recreation activities or leisure, have sordid tales to tell.
Recently, a female student of Lagos State Polytechnic, Ikorodu, who was descending to Ketu under belly from Abiola Garden, was attacked by hoodlums.
The hoodlums pretended to be lying on the grass, as the girl walked through the lawn, but they descended on her and made away with her handbag and phones.
Similarly at Iyana–Oworo Under Bridge, along Oworonshoki-Oshodi Expressway, some boys recently attacked a driver as he tried to negotiate the road leading to New Garage.
The hoodlums attacked from the garden where they pretended to relax under the tree.
It was a similar situation at the Apakun garden under the Lagos Airport link bridge near Toyota bus stop, along Oshodi-Apapa Expressway.
A trader at Ladipo spare parts market, Kingsley Odia, said the garden has become a home for hoodlums, who sleep under the bridge at day time and terrorise passers-by within the axis at night.
Odia lamented that hoodlums are making nonsense of the good works of LASPARK, which desired to make Lagos greener and healthier through the creation and maintenance of functional and operational parks and gardens, planting and maintenance of trees.
Another resident, Onyeka Martins claimed to have witnessed several attacks on pedestrians by hoodlums, especially when the road was closed recently for repairs.
When The Guardian visited a garden yesterday, some boys were noticed sleeping on the greenery without the presence of security operatives.
But the General Manager of LASPARK, Mrs. Adetoun Ibilola Popoola assured residents that security will be top-notch in the parks and gardens during the yuletide.
According to her, till date, 327 parks and gardens have been captured by the agency and maintained statewide for people to go and relax.
She said: “The agency always has our own security at the park for safety but when it’s a large event from private organisations or individuals we advise them to get security and that has been the usual norm.”
