By Sonny Iroche
Nigeria is a country of immense promise — blessed with a young population, natural resources, and creative energy. Yet, the day-to-day reality for many Nigerians is one of disorder, filth, noise, and indifference to public space and safety.
The current state of economic hardship plaguing the country- both rich and poor, epileptic power supply and the insecurity across the country have repeatedly been written by my humble self. The intention of this article, though conscious of all these issues highlighted, is however targeted at some of the practices that impinge on public health and pose an existential threat to the general public.
While it is common to place blame solely at the feet of the government, many of the problems we face — from environmental degradation to social indiscipline — begin at the level of the individual, the home, and our collective values as a people.
To fix Nigeria, we must first fix our attitude toward law, order, and communal life. Both of which are not mutually exclusive.
Lagos State with an estimated population of 20 million is the largest Nigeria’s commercial hub, presents the best opportunity to set a new standard. If we can get it right in Lagos, we can replicate success across the nation.
The Everyday Crisis: Eight Key Areas Needing Urgent Reform
1. Waste and Sanitation:
Mountains of garbage and blocked drainage systems are now a regular sight. This leads to flooding and disease outbreaks like cholera and malaria.
Global lesson: Singapore turned from one of Asia’s dirtiest cities in the 1960s to one of the cleanest through strict laws, civic education, and regular cleanups.
2. Rat Infestations:
Overflowing waste is breeding disease-carrying rats, contributing to Lassa fever and food contamination.
Global lesson: New York’s “Rat Reduction Plan” combines sanitation, better waste storage, and building design to attack the problem from the root.
3. Open Defecation and Sewage:
Despite some improvement in Lagos, open gutters and defecation persist in too many areas.
Global lesson: India’s “Clean India” campaign built millions of toilets and ran powerful awareness drives to change public habits.
4. Chaotic Traffic:
Lawless drivers, gridlock, and total disregard for traffic laws cost us time, money, and lives.
Global lesson: Bogotá in Colombia overhauled its transport system with Bus Rapid Transit, stricter enforcement, and public education — all with strong community buy-in.
5. Vehicle Pollution:
Old, poorly maintained cars and buses spew toxic fumes, damaging health and the environment.
Global lesson: Beijing banned high-emission vehicles, tightened emissions rules, and supported electric alternatives.
6. Noise Pollution:
Blaring horns and loud music are more than a nuisance — they affect mental health and quality of life.
Global lesson: Mumbai introduced “No Honking” campaigns with real fines, reducing noise and changing habits over time.
7. Disorderly Motorcycles and Tricycles:
Okadas and Kekes operate recklessly, causing accidents and violating traffic laws daily.
Global lesson: Kigali regulates motorcycles strictly, requiring helmets, reflective vests, licensing, and route control.
8. General Public Indiscipline:
Jumping queues, vandalizing public property, bribery — these have become normalized.
Global lesson: Japan emphasizes civic responsibility from early education. The result is a culture of order and respect for public goods.
Why This Keeps Happening
• Poor civic education and limited public enlightenment
• Weak enforcement of existing laws
• Corruption and inconsistent penalties
• Overcrowding and poor urban planning
• Cultural tolerance of disorder
• Poverty-driven survival tactics
A Blueprint for Change (Starting with Lagos)
Government Action:
• Reintroduce Civic Education: From primary school to the workplace, build a culture of respect for public space and the law.
• Strengthen Enforcement: Retrain agencies like LASTMA and KAI to act with firmness and fairness.
• Enforce Zero Tolerance: Fine and penalize littering, illegal parking, noise pollution, and traffic violations.
• Adopt Smart Technology: Use AI and cameras to monitor traffic, waste management, and public compliance.
• Urban Redesign: Invest in public toilets, green spaces, and accessible pedestrian areas.
Community Involvement:
• Monthly Sanitation Days: Modeled on Rwanda’s Umuganda, communities can reclaim their environments through collective action.
• Public Recognition: Incentivize clean neighborhoods and reward civic-minded behavior.
Leadership by Example:
• Political leaders, celebrities, and religious figures must walk the talk.
• Schools should reintroduce uniforms, public behavior standards, and civic clubs.
How AI Can Help Solve These Urban Challenges in Nigeria (Using Lagos as Pilot)
1. Sanitation, Waste Management, and Rats Infestation. Re- introduce sanitation inspectors.
AI Solutions:
• Smart Waste Management Systems:
Sensors in public bins can notify authorities when bins are full, optimizing collection routes using AI to avoid overflows and littering.
• AI-Powered Pest Detection:
AI cameras and data analysis can detect areas with high rat activity by monitoring waste patterns and public complaints.
• Predictive Analytics:
Using weather, human movement, and waste data to predict where waste buildup and rat infestations are likely to occur.
Example:
Barcelona uses AI to optimize waste collection and drastically cut costs while improving city cleanliness.
2. Open Sewage and Open Defecation
AI Solutions:
• Monitoring via Drones and Computer Vision:
AI-powered drones can detect areas where sewage is leaking or where open defecation is happening.
• Data Mapping:
AI can map underserved areas needing urgent sanitation facilities and prioritize resource allocation.
• Behavioral Nudging:
AI can personalize mobile messaging campaigns to residents in affected areas, nudging better sanitation practices.
Example:
India used AI mapping tools during the Swachh Bharat Mission to track toilet construction and behavior change.
3. Traffic Management, Violations, and Vehicle Pollution
AI Solutions:
• AI Traffic Control Systems:
Adaptive traffic lights using real-time traffic data to ease congestion.
• Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR):
Cameras with AI can automatically detect vehicles violating one-way streets, red lights, or illegal parking.
• Emission Monitoring:
AI systems can identify vehicles with excessive exhaust pollution at checkpoints or through mobile vehicle inspections.
Example:
Dubai uses AI traffic management centers that have reduced congestion by over 25%.
4. Noise Pollution and Honking
AI Solutions:
• AI Acoustic Monitoring Devices:
Smart sensors in hotspots to measure noise levels and trigger automatic fines or warnings.
• Pattern Analysis:
AI can analyze which zones and times experience maximum noise pollution to target enforcement campaigns.
Example:
Mumbai has piloted “noise meters” connected to police that automatically flag noise violations.
5. Okada (passenger motorbikes) Keke Riders, and Lawless Driving
AI Solutions:
• Driver Behavior Monitoring:
AI installed on bikes/tricycles (using smartphone apps or low-cost devices) can track reckless driving behavior.
• License and Route Digitization:
Use AI to verify and monitor licensed riders digitally in real time, including criminal background checks.
• Traffic Hotspot Prediction:
Predictive models to forecast where Okada or Keke riders are likely to cause congestion or accidents.
Example:
Kigali uses AI traffic prediction combined with GPS monitoring of motorcycle taxis.
6. General Public Indiscipline
AI Solutions:
• Smart Surveillance:
AI-driven CCTV networks can monitor vandalism, loitering, littering, and illegal hawking.
• Behavioral Insights from Big Data:
AI can analyze trends from citizen complaints, social media posts, and public reports to design better policy interventions.
Example:
Singapore has one of the most advanced AI surveillance systems to maintain public discipline without heavy-handed policing.
Critical Enablers for AI Deployment
• Data Availability:
Need to collect accurate urban data (waste, traffic, noise, sanitation).
• Policy and Legal Frameworks:
Privacy-respecting use of AI for public good must be regulated.
• Citizen Engagement:
AI should empower citizens to report issues, not just monitor them.
• Partnerships:
Collaboration with tech companies, universities, and startups is key.
The Way Forward
It’s time Nigeria resets its public values. We must break free from the normalization of disorder, and total disregard for law and order — from littering to lawlessness — and build a society we are proud to live in.
This change cannot come from government alone. It begins in homes, classrooms, communities, and in each citizen’s daily choices.
Let Lagos lead the way. Let us show that transformation is possible — and that a cleaner, more organized, and dignified Nigeria is within reach.
