VOA标准英语2009年-Lagos Plans To Solve Traffic, Overpopulation Pr

Lagos, Nigeria is already struggling with overpopulation problems. There is widespread poverty, poor sanitation¹, pollution and perhaps the worst traffic in the world. And the worst may be yet to come. The United Nations projects that by the year 2015 the population will grow to 20 million, making it the third largest city in the world. But, city officials are surprisingly optimistic about the future. They say Lagos has nowhere to grow but up.
　
Lagos' population currently is listed at over 14 million people but some local officials estimate there are as many as 18 million

For many in Nigeria's largest city, traffic congestion² has become a symbol of the country's inability to keep up with its rapidly growing population. Lagos' population currently is listed at over 14 million people but some local officials estimate there are as many as 18 million. But Opeyemi Bamidele the Lagos State Public Information Commissioner³ says overpopulation is not the problem.

"We do not believe that any nation can be overpopulated because part of our strength lies in our population, part of our strength lies in our diversity," he said."

Bamidele says what is needed is good governance, providing traditional government services, like picking up the trash and fixing roads, and development.

He says the recently developed bus rapid transit⁴ system or BRT, a dedicated⁵ main traffic lane for buses, is the beginning of a long-term solution.

But the city's most ambitious plan is to construct shopping and office complexes, to attract foreign investment and transform Lagos into a modern metropolis⁶. The only thing that stands in the way of development is the people who live on this land. One such project is a three-story shopping mall being constructed in the busy market section of Victoria Island.

Lagos Finance Commissioner Rotimi Oyekan says the land owners, mostly market vendors⁷, have been incorporated into development plans.

"We are providing them an opportunity to stay where they are in a new environment," he said. "Now that goes a long way, in saying yes, in every class we care. It's not just for the rich. It is also for the not so rich or the underprivileged."

Mustafa Atobajeun and more than 40 families own the property being developed on Victoria Island. They have been temporarily relocated to another part of the city. He says the government has promised they will have shops in the new building, collect rent from the tenants⁸, and own the developed property in 30 years. But he says the government also promised to provide a place to sell their goods during the transition, but that has not happened and they are struggling to survive.

"I want to bring this to your notice that whatever the government has promised us, they should fulfill⁹ it to the letter," he said.

Finance Commissioner Oyekan says the government will fulfill its promises.

"In Lagos we believe in continuity. It is one of our cardinal¹⁰ principals," he said. "The people's faith in government must never be shaken and we hope to carry that into the future."

While this development plan sounds too good to be true to Atobajeun and other land owners, they see little choice but to go along. They say to survive Lagos must create some order from the chaos¹¹ of this overcrowded city.

1 sanitation   

n.公共卫生，环境卫生，卫生设备

参考例句：

• The location is exceptionally poor,viewed from the sanitation point.从卫生角度来看，这个地段非常糟糕。
• Many illnesses are the result,f inadequate sanitation.许多疾病都来源于不健全的卫生设施。

2 congestion   

n.阻塞，消化不良

参考例句：

• The congestion in the city gets even worse during the summer.夏天城市交通阻塞尤为严重。
• Parking near the school causes severe traffic congestion.在学校附近泊车会引起严重的交通堵塞。

3 commissioner   

n.（政府厅、局、处等部门）专员，长官，委员

参考例句：

• The commissioner has issued a warrant for her arrest.专员发出了对她的逮捕令。
• He was tapped for police commissioner.他被任命为警务处长。

4 transit   

n.经过，运输；vt.穿越，旋转；vi.越过

参考例句：

• His luggage was lost in transit.他的行李在运送中丢失。
• The canal can transit a total of 50 ships daily.这条运河每天能通过50条船。

5 dedicated   

adj.一心一意的；献身的；热诚的

参考例句：

• He dedicated his life to the cause of education.他献身于教育事业。
• His whole energies are dedicated to improve the design.他的全部精力都放在改进这项设计上了。

6 metropolis   

n.首府；大城市

参考例句：

• Shanghai is a metropolis in China.上海是中国的大都市。
• He was dazzled by the gaiety and splendour of the metropolis.大都市的花花世界使他感到眼花缭乱。

7 vendors   

n.摊贩( vendor的名词复数 )；小贩；（房屋等的）卖主；卖方

参考例句：

• The vendors were gazundered at the last minute. 卖主在最后一刻被要求降低房价。
• At the same time, interface standards also benefIt'software vendors. 同时，界面标准也有利于软件开发商。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

8 tenants   

n.房客( tenant的名词复数 )；佃户；占用者；占有者

参考例句：

• A number of tenants have been evicted for not paying the rent. 许多房客因不付房租被赶了出来。
• Tenants are jointly and severally liable for payment of the rent. 租金由承租人共同且分别承担。

9 fulfill   

vt.履行，实现，完成；满足，使满意

参考例句：

• If you make a promise you should fulfill it.如果你许诺了，你就要履行你的诺言。
• This company should be able to fulfill our requirements.这家公司应该能够满足我们的要求。

10 cardinal   

n.(天主教的)红衣主教；adj.首要的，基本的

参考例句：

• This is a matter of cardinal significance.这是非常重要的事。
• The Cardinal coloured with vexation. 红衣主教感到恼火，脸涨得通红。

11 chaos   

n.混乱，无秩序

参考例句：

• After the failure of electricity supply the city was in chaos.停电后，城市一片混乱。
• The typhoon left chaos behind it.台风后一片混乱。