LESSONS FROM THE LEKKI TOLL CONCESSION

SIR: On my recent visit to Lagos from Benin City to attend my niece's wedding, I realised just how much potential the private sector has in rapidly developing the country. Travelling by road, it was a bumpy eight-hour drive from Benin to Lagos. It was not until we arrived in Lagos that we had respite from the bumps and grind of pothole-ridden roads.

I was particularly impressed when we reached Lekki, where my niece resides and equally venue/reception of the wedding. The new Lekki road is so beautiful at night, with its well-lit, smooth tarmac that I was tempted to think that I was in another country. Needless to say that there is no road like it in the country.

My positive impression of the road was confirmed the next morning. The Lagos State Government must be commended for initiating the project with the private sector. Now that the federal government has started privatising road facilities in the country, I hope credible organisations like the LCC will be invited to participate in the process. I would have willingly paid toll to travel on the Benin-Shagamu Road if it were half as good as the Lekki Road. Kudos to Lagos State.

Nigeria and power sector challenge
SIR: Thank God for the new development in the power sector, but in the name of God, India has more than enough power challenge for its people to be in any position to make a credible bid unless perhaps we want to hold on to the past and encourage dubious bids.

I live in the Republic of Ireland. I have been here now 11 years, power supply and management is 110 per cent perfect. I pray and hope ESB International Ireland wins the bid. God bless Nigeria.

Peace Osa-peace,
e-mail: [email protected]
Whose security?
SIR: The reason the Ministry of Education gave initially for the current compulsory closure of schools, was that INEC needed school premises for the registration of voters, security became a reason after the outcry of parents and school owners. Who is fooling who?

Titilola Akintayo,
e-mail: [email protected]
The training of bio-scientists
SIR: I read with interest the story on biotechnology titled: 'Nigeria targets best practices in Biotechnology' (The Guardian Tuesday January 11, 2011). I would like to suggest that the so-called target set by the National Biotechnology Development Agency is bound to fail unless we review our training of scientists.

This is because the training of bio-technicians and bio-scientists in Nigeria is very inadequate since ethics is never part of their training and when they receive some training in ethics, it is usually from quacks with little in-depth knowledge of the field.

So no matter the legislation in the offing, individual scientists in the labs are not bound in conscience and training to be morally sensitive and therefore it is a matter of time before someone gives us a Frankenstein monster while trying to produce more food.

Malachy Igwilo,
Ota, Ogun State.