Despite Prosecutions, Many Lagosians Continue To Shun Multi-Million Naira Pedestrian Bridges

Despite the Lagos State government spending millions of naira to build pedestrian bridges in strategic locations across the state, aimed at reducing human and vehicular interaction on highways, most Lagosians risk their lives daily crossing highways instead of making use of these bridges.

As of 2016, Lagos population was estimated at 21 million,  making it the most populous city in Africa.

The population of the state continues to be on the rise as thousands of people move in every year in search of job opportunities and a better life. Statista is projecting the population of Lagos to reach 24.4 million by 2035.

These footbridges were built by the government for the safety of pedestrians in densely populated areas of the state. But from Lekki-Epe Expressway to Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway; Apapa-Oshodi Expressway to Ikorodu Expressway, among others, people prefer crossing the highways instead of using these bridges.

This habitual action has led to accidents and loss of lives on highways.

Although crossing highways is illegal in the state, people have continued to flout the law, which has led to renewed commitment by the government to punish offenders.

Our correspondent who visited Ikeja-Along and Oshodi, observed that people are still crossing highways without using the pedestrian bridge, despite recent warnings by the state government.

At a pedestrian bridge in Oshodi, our correspondent saw two young men smoking Indian hemp just on the second floor of the bridge.

LAGESC Given Marching Order To Arrest, Prosecute

The Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, early this month,  ordered the Corp Marshal of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC), Major Olaniyi Olatunbosun Cole (rtd), and other law enforcement agents to arrest anyone found crossing the highway in the state.

According to Wahab, those arrested crossing the highway would be prosecuted immediately.

“Crossing the highway is an offence in Lagos State. Lagos State government has given a marching order to the @LAGESCOfficial (KAI) Marshall and other law enforcement officials to arrest anyone crossing the highway and then charge them to court immediately,” the commissioner said via his X handle.

He urged residents to make use of the pedestrian bridge while crossing the highway across the state.

“Please use the pedestrian bridges across the State,” Wahab pleaded.

The order is in line with the provisions of the 2017 Lagos State Environmental Management Protection Law, which prohibits residents from crossing the highway without making use of the pedestrian bridge.

This came after about a week that operatives of the LAGESC apprehended pedestrians who the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources said “risked their lives to cross the major road without using the Pedestrian Bridge at Ojota despite repeated warnings.”

Why Take The Risk?

Apart from the fear of being attacked by miscreants occupying some of these pedestrian bridges, some Lagosians cross highways because of impatience.

Some of the residents who spoke with THE WHISTLER in separate interviews said crossing highways is faster, even though it poses risk.

A resident, Derick Rock, said people are always in a haste in Lagos. And because of this, they see using pedestrian bridges as a waste of time.

“This is Lagos and everybody is moving on a fast pace. Climbing up and down, I think it takes more of their time. Hence, they want to use a shortcut,” Rock told THE WHISTLER.

“I use it most times, unless when it’s not available. It’s always good to use it. I always canvass for it. I’ve done a mistake one time and police stopped me and I had to explain the reason I had to do that. Since it was genuine, they had to let go.”

Another resident, David Uka, while condemning the habit of crossing highways without using the pedestrian bridge,  said the state does not have enough pedestrian bridges.

He complained of distance between crossing points and where pedestrian bridges are located in some areas.

Uka said: “I don’t think there’re enough pedestrian bridges. If I think that the distance between where I’m and the next bridge is two far, someone might want to take the risk.

“Other times, people just feel that crossing (the highways without using the bridge) is faster.”

Also speaking with THE WHISTLER, a resident who identified herself as Ene, attributed the tendency to impatience of some Lagosians.

“Most people are impatient and that’s why they cross  highways without using the pedestrian bridge. Everybody is in a hurry in this place and I think that’s why you see people, instead of using the bridge, will rather risk their lives to cross highways,” she said.

LAGESC Reacts

Speaking with THE WHISTLER on Monday, the Head, the Public Affairs and Advocacy Unit of LAGESC, Ajayi Lukman, said the agency on a daily basis arrests those that cross highways in the state.

According to him, officials of the agency arrested 15 people for crossing the highway on Monday at different locations, adding that they  would be charged to court immediately.

He stated that 18 miscreants were also arrested at different locations and would be charged to court as well.

“We make arrests every day. We’ve more than 15 people now in our custody. They’ll be going to court in the next 30 minutes,” Ajayi said.

“Government cannot spend millions of naira to construct bridges and people are not using it.”

Meanwhile, despite the recent dislodgement of miscreants by LAGESC from Oshodi and Ikeja-Along pedestrian bridges in enforcement operation, our correspondent who visited the areas on Saturday, observed that the miscreants are still much around.

The enforcement operation was in response to the outcry of Lagosians about the nefarious activities of miscreants occupying some pedestrian bridges along major expressways in the state “and the recurrent harassment meted out to unsuspecting pedestrians which discourages their use of these bridges.”

The Corps Marshal of the agency, Cole in a statement last week, had noted the importance of removing all human and environmental infractions which pose threats to the appropriate usage of pedestrian bridges in the state.

He had said: “We received outcries from Lagosians about the activities of miscreants and touts occupying the Oshodi and Ikeja-Along bridges on the guise of seeking shade, thereby placing themselves strategically to dislodge pedestrians of their valuables which discourages their use of the pedestrian bridges on the highways as it serves the purpose of protecting them from being knocked over by speeding motorists.”