ABULE EGBA IS A HOME TOO FOR THE AVERAGE

Busy night, Abule-Egba.
Photo credit: Lifeinslum

By Davy Fidel

(Freelance/Author)

In Lagos, Abule Egba is a big town that has it ups and downs like in every other town and cities in the metropolis. It is said to be a developing town that is situated in the mainland --- another heart beat of Lagos with plenty of commercial life. It has a route to Ikeja, Agege, Oshodi, the government Secretariat, and other neighbouring communities that has commercial activities. Through Abule-Egba, you can connect your destination to whenever place, route you want to go.

It is not a hidden town. The uniqueness of this place is there for you to see, feel, and talk about it. People are going out to their daily business to feed their bellies. The honking, the hustling, and how people are communicating with each other are part of the social life of Abule-Egba. Compare to other communities that is highly dense and over populated. Abule-Egba has less gang related fight that other communities are confronting. 

The youth pay less attention to social crime because they have other creative ways of earning a living. They are trying to catch up with the interesting things of life that is inspiring them. Whether it is education, fashion, learning new skill and acquisition; courtesy: unemployment. People ensures they are into something engaging them. No body wants to be left behind. Every one is on top of what they can do to be happy and stay alive despite the country is undergoing hard times. 

This is not to say the town doesn't have it own ups and downs. It does. However, what makes it unique is that people pay attention to the priority. The things they will derive joy and happiness. The social life is one part of Abule-Egba that can not be taken a way from it. Young and old, men and women, boys and girls engage their lives with excitement. They don't place priority on breaking bottles and snatching phones as most communities are experiencing it. 

The percentage of social crime is averagely less scaring. People don't hold their heart in their palm. They walk comfortable both day and night. And they have nothing to fear. This is one interesting recipe about Abule-Egba. Life for every one there is living life without causing harm to other people, who wants to live life too. Is it the recreational centres, the business and commercial activities beaming? The mentality there is that, how little it is, you need to live it respectfully and happily. 

In Abule-Egba, it is a complete story of different life. The commercial areas depicts the town. The clubs, the hotels and other social life makes Abule-Egba tourist viewing. There are other unique things about the town. People are living in togetherness. They interact in the common language they understand. And, they don't bother about the identity. People of different tribes are migrating there to start up their life. They are relocating there to build a future out of nothing. 

Especially, the young men from the North of Nigeria, who have experienced the hottest moment of insurgency and insecurity. Abule-Egba for many of them is a home of rebuilding their lives. Many of these northern young people either resort to food vendor, commercial driver (or okada riding as it called) to earn a living. Though, the Lagos State government ban on okada riders plying public roads is another challenge. Sometimes, the Lagos State Task Force threaten these riders to seize their bikes. 

A few months ago when this ban was implemented. An angry police sporadically pull he's trigger and it killed a bike rider (mentioned the street name). Residents there and concern people took up the matter and they expressed anger about the situation. Immediately, residents started reporting via phone the incident to the area commander and also the district police officer. The pressure was much that the area commander had to ordered patrol visit to the scene. This incident occurred at night. Since then, the police are cautioned.  

They patrol but not to harassed people going their daily business. Whether it is in the day or night, the police don't mount any roadblocks on the streets. This is because gang war, social violence are lesser compare to other communities experiencing it each day. However, the spontaneous agitation was a caution to the police. At Abule-Egba, people's focus is about getting things done and making something out of nothing in their life. Is it the brilliant young people paying attention to their career?

Commercial bridge.
Photo credit: lifeinslum

According to residents in the town, they expect government to erect more social infrastructures. Road is among them. Although, there are major roads connecting to other route. However, resident needs the government to construct, rehabilitate some of the roads in the inner parts of Abule-Egba. This is because of the raining season that sometimes affect houses. Despite the town is on the hillsides, people want the government to tackle the challenges of the drainage system. 

This is not peculiar to Abule-Egba alone. It is a social problem of development the government must tackle, other communities and towns are experiencing also. In spite of this challenges, residents, settlers, and migrants still live in harmony. No one is a threat to each other. Whether you are from the major or minor ethnic groups in the country. The mentality people have is that people needs to live together despite the language and tribe. This is what makes Abule-Egba a home to stay for both the average and affluence.

The Kantagwa market is a tourist place to visit. It is showbiz for people coming to buy clothes so they can look good in other people's eyes. Compare to the classic super market and departmental stores in other part of Lagos. The Kantagwa market situated at Abule-Egba's heart, have people of different location of Lagos, come and buy clothes. It is the Mandalas, Trade Fair, and Lagos Island for hundreds of people coming to buy and resale at other areas of business. 

In Abule-Egba, the Kantagwa market is the biggest Depot of clothes competing with others. Men and women go there to hustle and earn a living. Monday to Saturday is a busy day, especially on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. These days are special day for people to come and buy what they like. Even clothes sellers selling tokunbo i.e okirika wares at Yaba, sometimes, visit the market and buy in large quantities --- first grade clothes. People also at Otta, Abeokuta that have heard about the market come there to buy also. 

The kantagwa market is not a myth. It is a popular area people are visiting. And everyone living at Abule-Egba don't fail to go there on these special days to buy what fit them. The atmosphere in the market is something that will interest you. There was a time the government threaten to grab the land from the traders. But the leaders of the market as association took the government to court. In LIFEINSLUM's next bulletin, a full story about Kantagwa market shall be reported.

Abule-Egba is not only known for social life alone. There are other interesting thing about it. Those interesting things are what some brilliant concern residents are thinking about. Part of it is initiating a film and book club. Both are to engage young people and adult, who has interest on reading and engaging their mind and time in something creative. For these people thinking on this part, it is to give Abule-Egba a new face-lift that is different from other things people love about the town.