Some seemingly little things that happen in Lagos state echo across the federation in no time!
Many of us easily find the need to challenge our government on the need to emulate foreign countries with clean streets across the city but if you talk to a street cleaner or any other person mandated with such duties, he’ll tell you how deep our collective attitudes negate possibilities of actualizing such expectations.

Easily too, we sometimes find it easy to conclude that officials of Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) are only being ‘wicked’ when they strive to carry out their statutory duties.
Some little things that happen in Lagos sometimes become issues for discussion in other parts of the federation. One of the more cent ones is the viral video of the female street trader whose viral video got ‘enriched’ with claims that the stall she put up along the street was only being demolished because a staff of KAI once made sexual advances towards her!
I was one of those whose immediate reaction was to take sides with the woman who was claiming oppression and extortion. However, careful findings later indicated that her claims ‘get as e be’.

But have we easily forgotten that KAI was born through a lofty vision to ensure better quality of life for all im a sustainable way?

The Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) is a government agency that was established to enforce discipline and orderliness in Lagos, a city that daily attracts people from all parts of Nigeria. The agency is responsible for ensuring that Lagos residents comply with the state’s environmental and traffic laws.

Unfortunately, the agency has received numerous sentimental attacks from some citizens, who accuse the agency of being too harsh in enforcing these laws. However, it is essential to stop these sentimental attacks and support the agency for the following reasons that appear obvious, even to visitors like us who live hundreds of miles away.

Firstly, KAI’s primary objective is to make Lagos a better place for everyone. By enforcing environmental and traffic laws, the agency is ensuring that the state is clean and safe for all residents. This means that the agency is working towards the common good of all Lagosian, and any attacks against the agency are attacks against the common good.

Secondly, KAI’s enforcement of environmental and traffic laws has resulted in a significant reduction in crime rates in Lagos. The agency’s efforts have made it difficult for criminals to operate, and this has led to a safer environment for residents. By attacking the agency, citizens are indirectly supporting criminal activities and making Lagos an unsafe place to live.

Thirdly, the sentimental attacks against KAI are often unfounded and based on misinformation. The agency is often accused of being too harsh in enforcing laws, but this is not entirely true. The agency operates within the confines of the law, and its actions are necessary to maintain order in the state. Citizens should take the time to understand the agency’s mandate and the laws it enforces before making unfounded accusations.

KAI is a government agency, and attacking it is an attack on the government itself. The government has put the agency in place to ensure that laws are enforced, and it is our responsibility as citizens to support the government’s efforts. By attacking the agency, citizens are undermining the government’s authority and sending the wrong message to other government agencies.
In conclusion, it is imperative to stop sentimental attacks against KAI and support the agency in its efforts to make Lagos a better place. The agency’s mandate is to enforce environmental and traffic laws, and it is necessary for the common good. The agency’s efforts have also contributed to a safer Lagos, and any attacks against the agency are indirectly supporting criminal activities. It is also essential to note that the sentimental attacks against KAI are often unfounded and based on misinformation. Therefore, citizens should take the time to understand the agency’s mandate and the laws it enforces before making unfounded accusations.

Jide Babalola, an Abuja-based journalist is a regular visitor to Lagos.