Lagos traffic: The Economist blast Ambode, says he is full of excuses and few solutions

The Economist few days ago wrote an article on the persistent traffic gridlock residents of the state have come to experience in recent weeks. In the article which is titled "Paralysed, Why Nigeria's largest city is even less navigable than usual", the international magazine stated that the new governor Akinwunmi Ambode, unlike his predecessor, is full of excuses and few solutions. Read the full article after the cut...

"Traffic is a way of life in Lagos, Africa’s most populous city. Home by some counts to over 20m people, it is among the most notoriously congested places in the world. The “go-slow” piles up long before dawn as businessmen in SUVs and traders in battered buses hit the overburdened roads. It lasts until well after dark. Often the queues can be unfathomable: a rainstorm, a breakdown or a public holiday can condemn a driver to hours in horn-honking hell. Tardy workers proffer one irrefutable excuse: “Traffic is bad.” Yet the gridlock that Lagosians have suffered in recent weeks is noteworthy even by the city’s horrendous standards. Rush hours have lengthened, and vehicles back up at unusual hours along the bridges linking the mainland with an island business district. Safety concerns are mounting as armed robbers pillage stuck cars while police are far away. Security experts reckon this is symptomatic of a broader increase in organised crime under a new and less competent state government. Lagos is a hub for investors in Africa—it is a bigger economy in its own right than most countries on the continent, so this is of serious concern. The state’s former governor, Babatunde Fashola, who left office after elections in March, was lauded for improving traffic and security. He curbed dangerous motorbike taxis and brought local “area boys” (street children), under control. Cars were terrified into order by a state traffic agency, LASTMA, whose bribe-hungry officers flagged down offending drivers. His successor, Akinwunmi Ambode, is full of excuses, but few solutions, for the worsening gridlock. Traffic is always bad during the rains, he says. Nigerians are migrating to Lagos en masse in search of work in a worsening economy, his office adds. Yet the root of the problem is in policy: Mr Ambode cut the powers of traffic controllers by banning them from impounding cars. In retaliation, officers have refused to enforce the rules. Reform in a culture riddled with corruption is never easy. Mr Ambode’s office says the measure was intended to create a more “civil society”. Less fastidious types think it amounts to weakness, and would prefer that he focused on public transport instead. The biggest concern is that the gridlock is a sign of a breakdown in relations between security forces, government agencies and the new governor. If that is the case, there could be worse to come. That is bad news not only for Lagosians, but all Nigerians too.

Bride dies in Motorcycle crash on her way to reception minutes after marrying new husband

An Illinois bride (pictured above) died just minutes after saying "I do" to the love of her life when the motorcycle she and her groom were riding to their reception crashed, family said. Jana Miles-Burnett, 40, exchanged vows with William Burnett, 31, in a city park in Illinois about 6:30 p.m. Saturday.

The couple had met through friends and decided to wed after a whirl-wind romance, family told Inside Edition. "After two months, they knew they wanted to be together," the woman's daughter, Sarah Smillie, said.

 "There wasn't a time that I had seen her happier. If they were together, she was smiling," Smillie, 22, told IE. The wedding ceremony reflected their relationship and was light and full of love, she said. "I’ve never been to a wedding where there was so much laughter. They were stumbling over each other's words because they were nervous, but they were laughing," Smillie said. "It was the most relaxed and funny thing I've ever seen at a wedding."

After being pronounced husband and wife, the couple hopped on Burnett's motorcycle and waved on family to start a procession to the reception, Smillie's husband, Khole Smillie said. Read: Engaged Couple Who Discovered They Were Preschool Sweethearts Return to Old School "They went to do the procession and they wanted them (Miles-Burnett and Burnett) to go first, but Jana waved everyone on because she wanted to be the last one," Khole Smillie said.

"They all got to the reception and they saw ambulances and firetrucks going back." It was during the procession that a deer ran onto the road and into the newlyweds' lane, causing a crash that threw Miles-Burnett, 40, to the ground. "There were three or four motorcycles together and William tried to swerve and did everything he could. It (the deer) had turned around and darted right at the bike. There's some things you cannot control," Khole Smillie said.

"Deer were going crazy that night. It's mating season and it's a rural road. Coming back, we saw 30 deer in a 20-minute ride running across the road." Still wearing her wedding gown, Miles-Burnett was rushed to the hospital but could not be saved and was pronounced dead an hour later. "At least she didn't suffer. Everybody else just suffers the pain now," Khole Smillie said.

Her new husband suffered minor injuries in the crash. "We've seen each other every day since then," Smillie said of her mother's husband, who in less than a day of being married, became a widower. "He's holding up. He's like me. Every hour or so he breaks down."

Source: CNN's Inside Edition

Oh no,he didn't! Wayne Rooney slaps WWE Wrestler Wade Barrett

Wayne Rooney decided to relax a little and went for a WWE match in Manchester accompanied by coach Ryan Giggs, former teammate Darren Fletcher and son Kai. Little did the Manchester crowd know they were in for a thrill. After spotting the Man. U captain, Manchester-wrestler Wade Barrett attempted to playfully humiliate Rooney. Wade, 35, goaded him, saying: 'In this ring are two men who can easily be described as championship material. Which is, of course, more than can be said of Wayne Rooney and Manchester United.'

Barrett didn't end there. He now goaded Rooney and his son seated ringside which the England striker apparently couldn't take.

'I'd hate for your little boy to sit there and watch his own father fail. Because let's face it, he gets to experience that every single time you step on a football pitch.'

Wayne Rooney then stood up challenged Barrett to a fight, gesticulating to the wrestler to come down from the ring to which the wrestler responded. Upon reaching Rooney's ringside sit, the Manchester united striker slapped him, all to the amazement of little son Kai Rooney...Lol

The amazed Manchester crowd chanted Rooney's name as the striker's blow left Barrett sprawling on the floor. The incident - true to professional wrestling - was of course scripted and England skipper Rooney 'revelled' his role. 

Afterwards, Barrett tweeted: 'I'm heading to Old Trafford early tomorrow morning. I hope @WayneRooney has the guts to meet me there.' He then added: 'Does anyone have Phil Bardsley's phone number?' 

A WWE source, speaking to Sportsmail, said: 'It was brilliant. Wayne was in great spirits before the event and he happily agreed to take part in the stunt with Wade Barrett. The fans absolutely loved it and I'm sure his son Kai would have enjoyed it too.' 

Rooney, of course, is no stranger to 'pretend' fighting after a video of him apparently being knocked out by Phil Bardsley went viral in March

Oh no,he didn't! Wayne Rooney slaps WWE Wrestler Wade Barrett

Wayne Rooney decided to relax a little and went for a WWE match in Manchester accompanied by coach Ryan Giggs, former teammate Darren Fletcher and son Kai. Little did the Manchester crowd know they were in for a thrill. After spotting the Man. U captain, Manchester-wrestler Wade Barrett attempted to playfully humiliate Rooney. Wade, 35, goaded him, saying: 'In this ring are two men who can easily be described as championship material. Which is, of course, more than can be said of Wayne Rooney and Manchester United.'

Barrett didn't end there. He now goaded Rooney and his son seated ringside which the England striker apparently couldn't take.

'I'd hate for your little boy to sit there and watch his own father fail. Because let's face it, he gets to experience that every single time you step on a football pitch.'

Wayne Rooney then stood up challenged Barrett to a fight, gesticulating to the wrestler to come down from the ring to which the wrestler responded. Upon reaching Rooney's ringside sit, the Manchester united striker slapped him, all to the amazement of little son Kai Rooney...Lol

The amazed Manchester crowd chanted Rooney's name as the striker's blow left Barrett sprawling on the floor. The incident - true to professional wrestling - was of course scripted and England skipper Rooney 'revelled' his role. 

Afterwards, Barrett tweeted: 'I'm heading to Old Trafford early tomorrow morning. I hope @WayneRooney has the guts to meet me there.' He then added: 'Does anyone have Phil Bardsley's phone number?' 

A WWE source, speaking to Sportsmail, said: 'It was brilliant. Wayne was in great spirits before the event and he happily agreed to take part in the stunt with Wade Barrett. The fans absolutely loved it and I'm sure his son Kai would have enjoyed it too.' 

Rooney, of course, is no stranger to 'pretend' fighting after a video of him apparently being knocked out by Phil Bardsley went viral in March