Lagos/Abeokuta Expressway Residents Cry Out As Oke-Odo Pedestrian Bridge Turns Love Nest

In spite of the pedestrian bridge at the
Ile-Epo market axis on the Lagos/
Abeokuta Expressway, residents of
Oke-Odo have continued to risk their
lives by dashing across the road.
The development has led to many
deaths as fast moving vehicles crush
people who failed to adhere to
warnings against crossing the
expressway.
Some of the residents who spoke to
the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
on Saturday in Lagos said the facility
had been converted into a meeting
spot for lovers who use the bridge as
a rendezvous of sorts.
They also said that hoodlums in the
area have also taken advantage of the
location of the bridge to perpetrate
acts of illegality on pedestrians using
the bridge.
Some of them complained about their
helth conditions, including age and
rheumatic pains which prevented
them from being able to climb the
bridge.
The development, they said had made
some residents, especially those with
children to dash across the road,
instead of using the bridge that was
meant for their safety and well being.
NAN reports that complaints from the
residents to the authorities have
prompted the police to increase its
surveillance at day and night to
ensure law and order in the locality
But in spite of the restoration of order
by law enforcement agents, some
pedestrians still preferred to dash
across the road, instead of using the
facility.
A trader, Mrs Olabisi Adeogun, told
NAN that the reason why she was not
using the bridge was because of her
physical condition.
“I don’t have the strength to climb
this bridge, I prefer to walk across the
road which is easier for me,’’ she
said.
On his part, Mr Daniel Udoye, a
banker, told NAN that he preferred to
cross the road at night for safety
reasons.
He, however, urged the government to
light up the pedestrian bridge at night
to assure would be users of their
safety when they pass through bridge
at night.
“By so doing we can comfortably use
the bridge without any fear,’’ he
added.
Mrs Adebimpe Adeoye, a business
woman, said that she avoided the
bridge because of the acts of
immorality that was been perpetrated
by the itinerant lovers on the bridge.
“When I leave my shop every day, I
pass through the bridge with my
children.
“I do not want my children to learn
bad things from what they see these
young girls and boys do on the bridge.
“And it also a big risk for me to take
my children across the express
because we have fast moving vehicles
there.
“The government has given us the
bridge to save our lives and not to
destroy it, so they need to intensify
their surveillance in this area
especially on the bridge,’’ she said.
NAN reports that officials of Kick
Against Indiscipline (KAI) said they
had arrested over 7,000 persons for
crossing the road instead of using the
pedestrian bridge.
KAI’s Public Relations Officer, Mr
Tunde Olusesi, also told NAN that up
to 30 defaulters are arrested on a
daily basis.
“Pedestrian bridges are built to save
lives, people should try and protect
themselves by using the pedestrian
bridge,’’ he said.
According to him, KAI officials will
continue to arrest erring members of
the public until they imbibe the act of
using the pedestrian that was
constructed for their safety