Lagos Residents Clamour for More Foot Bridges at Ojota

Lagos residents on Monday urged the State Government to construct more pedestrian bridges at Ojota bust stop, so as to decongest its only available bridge and ease road crossing.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that due to the newly constructed barricades along the Ojota/Ikorodu expressway, there are long queues at the foot of the Ojota pedestrian bridge on both sides.

NAN notes that the queues often extend into Ogudu Rd. and Opebi Rd. respectively.
Officials of the Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) were also see ensuring orderliness and making sure people did not cross the express road on foot.
A businessman, Mr Rilwan Odu who said he was going to Ikeja and had been on the queue for 15 minutes, a development he described as stressful.
“I alighted from the BRT bus at Ojota Bus Stop like 15 minutes ago and had to walk inside Ogudu road to join this very long queue, so that I can cross to the other side and find my way to Ikeja.

“This is very stressful and it is obvious that I will be late for my appointment.
“Since Ojota is a central area to link other routes in the state, it means that just one pedestrian bridge is not enough.
“Government should construct one or two more pedestrian bridges to ease human traffic on the bridge and avoid this long queue, “Odu said.
A civil servant, Miss Ayo Elesho commended the effort of the state government, but noted that one or two more foot bridges at Ojota would promote and instill the culture of orderliness and discipline among residents.
“Most Lagosians are always in a hurry and they lack the virtue of patience. This kind of development will help instill orderliness and eliminate rowdiness,” she said.
A cleric, Alhaji Jelili Mohammed, said that incidences of pedestrians being run over by motorists would reduce when residents adhere to using pedestrian bridges.
“Even when the mobile court was stationed in this area for some time, people were still crossing the expressway and endangering their lives.
“Accidents happen on this road all the time and this government’s effort would reduce the rate of accidents drastically; but we will need another bridge to ease the stress of standing on the long queue”, Mohammed said.
A KAI official, who pleaded anonymity, said that they came out earlier today to maintain orderliness as a result of complaints by some residents.
“Some people came to our office to complain that since the construction of the barricade on the express road, there had been congestion on the bridge and jostling that had led to injuries as well as enabled pickpockets to operate.
“We, therefore, came out to ensure orderliness and prevent people from injuring one another,’’ he said.

(Source: NAN)