Lack of pedestrian bridge worries Kugbo traders

Traders and residents of Kugbo, a suburb of Abuja, have lamented lack of pedestrian bridge across the highway, forcing residents to engage in a risky dash across the road as vehicles speed by. Some of the traders said the expressway has become a hub of accidents involving vehicles  and pedestrians. They said several lives have […]

Traders and residents of Kugbo, a suburb of Abuja, have lamented lack of pedestrian bridge across the highway, forcing residents to engage in a risky dash across the road as vehicles speed by.

Some of the traders said the expressway has become a hub of accidents involving vehicles  and pedestrians. They said several lives have been lost over the years.

Some of the residents also said that government had not responded to their demand for a pedestrian bridge despite the loss of lives. 

Emma Chukwuemeka, a motor spare parts dealer who has been in Kugbo for three years complained that there have been several incidents that have led to motorists and pedestrians sustaining injuries. “We have been experiencing many accidents on this road. Just last year, there was an accident that happened after a trailer loaded with soft drinks had a brake failure and crashed into some smaller cars. It killed many people while others sustained injuries.

Another auto parts dealer who only gave his name as Sampson claimed that they have been neglected by the government and this is affecting them negatively. He stated that though the number of accidents had reduced, there are still minor accidents that have been happening because there is no pedestrian bridge that would enable people to safely across the road.

Sampson said they needed help not just with the bridge but also with protection of their properties. He said that they have been requested by the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) to each pay N9,000 annually yet nothing has been done to help them.

Mr Paul Malachi, a shop owner at the Kugbo autoparts market, alleged that all they have been getting from government officials were unfulfilled promises. According to him, the mechanic village that was close to them had been demolished with promises of reconstruction made but nothing has been done about it.

Malachi added that a lot of people including some of his fellow auto parts dealers have been affected in accidents. He said, “We really need help with the bridge because of accidents that are affecting the people.

“One of my colleagues, Okudili  is a victim of a hit-and-run some years ago and till now, he has not been able to walk normal. There is also Ndubuisi who was involved in an accident too. So you can see that this pedestrian bridge is something we really need,” he said.