Attitude and pedestrian bridges usage in Nigeria (I)

To refresh our memories, Mr. Agwu pointed out that pedestrian bridges in the FCT were not mere architectural efforts but to complement safer road use and further fulfillment of the second pillar of the UN Decade of Action which spells out the need to improve the safety of road networks for the benefit of all […]

To refresh our memories, Mr. Agwu pointed out that pedestrian bridges in the FCT were not mere architectural efforts but to complement safer road use and further fulfillment of the second pillar of the UN Decade of Action which spells out the need to improve the safety of road networks for the benefit of all road users, especially the most vulnerable: pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists.
Despite the current efforts by the Federal Government which has spread to states such as Lagos, Rivers, Ondo and others, it is most disturbing to notice the apathy and non-compliance among pedestrians across the country on the use of these bridges. Strictly speaking, how many of us (pedestrians) truly comply with the use of pedestrian  bridges which, to a large extent, would have reduced the spate of avoidable ‘hit-and-run” cases if properly adhered to?  As a christian, the bible says that he that is faithful in little will be faithful in much. What moral justification do we have to complain about inadequate road furniture when we rarely utilize the available ones?
Speaking at a cycling/walking exercise organized by the FRSC to mark this year’s United Nations Global Road Safety Week, the President of the Cyclists Federation of Nigeria, Alhaji Mohammed Nur Sherif, had disclosed that pedestrians account for a quarter of weekly global road crash fatalities of 5,000 deaths.
Imagine these scenarios: Aba road (Port Harcourt), Douglas Adeyemi was driving home from work on a wet Tuesday night in July this year when he witnessed the crushing of a young man by a lorry after he attempted to cross the expressway, shunning one of the pedestrian bridges within the metropolis.
Giving the gory details of the accident, Adeyemi, who works with an eatery, said the unpleasant experience shattered his night as the shocking incident haunted him in his sleep. He said death like this was avoidable if the need for pedestrian bridges on the expressway was appreciated.
Ministers’ Hill (FCT): A reporter from one of the national newspapers also witnessed a gory accident at the Minster’s Hill junction where a young man was knocked down by a fast moving car. The unfortunate victim, who was later identified as a job seeker planning to keep up with a job interview somewhere in Maitama District, died before he could be taken to the hospital. Such avoidable death is a daily occurrence on Kubwa Expressway, Lugbe road along the airport and other major roads in the FC T.  One surviving victim of the speeding/risky dash across the expressway incidents, a plantain chips seller, was hit by a taxi driver at the Wuse market axis.  Ibrahim had one of his legs severed after the bitter experience and now lives on crutches. There are numerous recorded and unrecorded incidents of similar nature.
Ikorodu road (Lagos): Bosede Oladimeji was compelled to pull over like other motorists along Ikorodu road in Lagos under the scorching sun due to the imposing presence of the life-less body of a lady with unknown identity. Eyewitness account had it that she was run over by a speeding Toyota Corrolla as she attempted to dash across the road. The driver just sped off without blinking an eye while other vehicles took turns to further crush the corpse.
A pedestrian, Segun Olabode, whose view was sought on this unpleasant trend, said “climbing the bridge was time-consuming”. He ignorantly added “I have a shop at the Computer Village in Ikeja, Lagos and every morning, I travel from Sango to Lagos. Once I get down at the foot of the Ikeja overhead bridge, I quickly cross over to the other side of the road. I don’t see reasons why I should spend valuable minutes climbing the bridge. It is a waste of time. Here in Lagos, time waits for no one. Crossing the main road is much faster if I can avoid the vehicles. It’s a matter of choice if I am certain that I will not be knocked down by a vehicle,” said Olabode.
Feelers from across the country indicate that apart from the people who dash across the express roads at rush hour of each day, those who hawk goods on the expressways freely choose to break the traffic rule.  Majority of them still defend this hazardous practice. “I can’t be carrying my goods over the pedestrian bridge, it’s stressful. I find it easier crossing the road. I know it’s not safe, but that is what I prefer. I hawk goods here all the time so how will I make money if I have to cross the road, using the pedestrian bridges. No motorist will wait for me if I have to climb the bridge before coming to sell to them. We are used to the system.”
To be concluded next week