Inside Magodo: Where is the celebrated attraction?

Magodo Phase 2 is a home for the rich and mighty, including government officials, celebrities and Chief Executive Officers of Nigeria’s frontline companies. The prime location, which is adjacent to the seat of power in Lagos, makes the neighbourhood so attractive. For people who are working in Lagos Island or in Lekki, it is a direct fast drive to their various offices, while those earning a living as government offcials at Alausa, Ikeja, could decide to leave their cars at home and take a walk (usually recommended by doctors for fitness) to their places of work. These and many more, make Magodo a good residential area.
Despite the rosy picture, however, many residents are no longer happy with the infrastructure of the much celebrated area. The immediate past chairman of the Magodo Residents Association, Mr. Kunle Fashogbon, lamented poor electricity supply to the estate, which he said had become a source of worry and embarrassment to the residents.
It is a surprise that the elite and their upscale standing in the society, have not overcome the electricity supply challenges.
He recalled that some years ago, steady electricity supply was not an issue in the area as neighbouring estates became envious of Magodo’s constant electricity supply. “Of course, Ikeja Electric tells us their challenges every time. The situation is that we don’t have steady electricity supply,” he said.
He disclosed that the estate residents had been pooling resources to provide alternative power supply, adding, “The money could be used for something else. If it is possible for us to think of an alternative power supply. We are ready as an association to consider an alternative source of supply. We have had offers from different companies, but the support of Ikeja Electric has not been there. Recently, residents of Magodo met with the management of the electricity company, but were told the same old story.
“They said they could only give what they had. The estate was never in that kind of parlous situation before. I think the general thing is that Ikeja Electric is having challenges beyond its capacity. There are people, who are subscribers to the Maryland Electricity enjoying better supply.”
Fashogbon added that since Nigeria lacked responsible governance, the residents of the estate could not just overlook certain things.
“I am not saying that government is not doing anything; they have done like three roads in the last 10 years. But the roads done by the residents are more than the ones done by the government,” he declared.
Another resident, Fola Adesanya, however, maintained that the estate was the best place to rear children.
“I have lived on the same street, Kola Amodu, for seven years, though I have changed houses. Magodo is accessible to the Island and other parts of Lagos,” she said.
She, however, lamented the residents’ almost total dependence on generator as source of electricity supply, adding that since the commercial motorcycle riders, popularly called “okada” were stopped from operating in the estate, it had also become difficult for some of the residents to move around, without a car of theirs.
Dotun Awe, who moved into Magodo in 2000, applauded the security arrangement in the estate as the best.
“You can see that it is just adjacent to Alausa, the centre of power in Lagos State. So it is strategically put there for the government officials,” Awe said.
He explained that the major challenge for the residents in Magodo was the restriction of the exit and access to the estate to one gate, through the CMD road.
“If we have alternate access, things would be better. Social life is very poor; we used to have good hangout spots but they’ve not been running as they used to. There was Grandview, but I heard they are coming back this month. Ziggies is closed down. Residents of Magodo go outside the estate to have fun,” Awe noted.
A realtor, Bimbo Owosina, described the estate as a very peaceful area, which had become home to different government officials and politicians.
“A current governor of a state is staying inside the estate. The security is good and it is a good place to do business for me too. As an estate surveyor, I must tell you that I have over 50 properties in my management portfolio within the estate alone,” he said.
He, however, complained about the poor power supply, the gradual commercialisation of the area and the traffic situation in Magodo.
“Lately, like most places in Nigeria, the power supply has been bad. The traffic we face at the peak hours is always terrible, though the traffic warders try their best to control things,” Owosina said.