Wednesday 4 April 2007

Still on Reckless Nigerian Drivers...'Molue'



If you've ever lived in Lagos, Nigeria you will be familiar with the 'molue bus'. 'Molue' is an 'abandoned american school bus' transformed into mass transit buses for very low-income commuters in Lagos.
They are mighty road bullies, very poorly maintained and they always carry more passengers than they should. I
t is not unfamiliar in Lagos to see 6people or more; men, women and children hanging off its entrance or exit doors.
They have the loudest horns and the worst brakes, and have been the major cause of most accidents in Lagos.
Phew!!!!

I have had these pictures for a month or so.
It's the scene of another molue accident caused by brake failure.
About eight passengers were flung off the third mainland bridge into the waters below.
Needless to say, there was no survivor.
I wonder how many Nigerians can swim, though.
Anyway, the pictures are of 'fishermen turned rescuers'.
A fully uniformed Naval Officer stood in one of the canoes giving instructions to some swimmers who I assume were fishermen.

I was very troubled and I began to wonder how the common men in Nigeria survive when Lagos state cannot boast of emergency rescue facilities for such accidents.
I also began to wonder if we ever learn anything from other countries.
Many Nigerians watch movies and Reality series and know how servicemen(lifeguards, policemen, firemen etc) would risk their own lives to carry out their duties.
It's sad about the lack of facilities in our country, sad about our lackadaisical attitude to our commitments as citizens of this country, we all are sad.
We cant blame anyone,,,,,well on second thoughts we may be able to blame some but is that what we are gonna spend the rest of our lives doing??

What do ye Reckon???

1 comment:

Victor said...

thats the gopel truth. molue has become a nightmare in lagos. it shold be scrapped. but is there hoe for the poor?