BLESS THE ONES THAT KEEP OUR ROADS CLEAN

I write this with some sort of remorse and I know you will understand when you're done reading this article. Have you seen those highway sweepers? Those old women who risk their lives on the ever erratic highway in Lagos, sweeping the road day morning and afternoon and evening just to make our Lagos State look clean.

So I was sitting quietly in the bus, looking at the unusual serene environment and waiting for the traffic light to clock green so that we can continue our journey. Just at the side of the road, this elderly woman was assiduously sweeping the road and with her long broom improvised on a stick, she brought the dirt to a partway, brings the packer and in one fell swoop the dirt is gone.

I couldn't help but wonder why such an old woman will be doing this and at such early hour of the day. She must have woken up much earlier, beaten the traffic, gotten dressed up somewhere and picked up her gadgets of work, head straight to the bridge and swept it clean. She epitomises the spirit of Lagos. Doing her bit somewhere, oblivious of the hazards lurking everywhere but not bothered. Her wage is just about N12, 000 to N18, 000 monthly and I am almost certain it isn't more than that (between $70 and $105 Dollars). That translate to the fact that she barely lives above $2.30 Dollars daily and that is very unacceptable.

Yet she doesn't complain. People throwing dirt from their cars, from their houses and litter the whole space. We can do her a favour by keeping our dirt in our confines and reduce her work load for the day. She also has mouth to feed so don’t even ask her to go look for other job; I'm sure you know even graduates don’t have job.

Our excesses as a people are countless. Our blatant disregard and disrespect for our society, nature and humans can't even be expressed here. Let us change if we want change. That dirt you generated from your house, or in the car, can you keep it properly and dispose of it properly? That will help keep our roads clean and help reduce the work load for that poor old woman. I know some foolish people will still throw out dirt even after reading this. They are perpetually foolish so I am not talking to such people.

I am talking to you, yes YOU! I know you have sense and you won't dispose your dirt senselessly from henceforth. Lets help keep Lagos Clean. Harass whoever you see dispose dirt wrongly, such idiot will think twice before doing it again.