The foot of the Ojota Bridge now looks like beehive following the recent upsurge in the number of commuters using the pedestrian bridge. The busy area has been presenting an unusual scene in Lagos since the government of the state enforced the use of the pedestrian bridges few weeks ago. A barricade has been placed in the intersection of the Ojota express road in order to stop pedestrians from crossing. During rush hours- from 5pm, queues of pedestrians trying to use the bridge gradually build up from the foot of the bridge, also from miles beyond.
Typically, on one side of the road, the queue extended down to new garage, and Kudirat Abiola way, on the other side, the queue went as far as Ogudu road- all within the Ojota environ. Several traffic officials, the most visible being the Kick Against Indiscipline, KAI, officials ensure that people do not cross the expansive express road. A stationed Black Maria vehicle used to arrest pedestrians was on one side of the road, daring people to cross, and those who dared to do so, were immediately arrested.
Other government agencies enforcing laws in this area include Police officers and some private security officials addressed as bouncers owing to their hefty and fierce appearance. The bouncers were seen seated within the two-sided barricade in the intersection of the road, acting oblivious and in dare-devil manners to all going-on around them. Immediately a person crosses the road, he is quickly nabbed by these men. Lagosians complained bitterly as the traffic built up into a large crowd towards the early evening and thicker as night approached during the visits of our correspondents to the scene.
In typical Lagos fashion, the traffic on the bridge which led to people practically shuffling as they moved forward was unsatisfactory. What started as a single lane of each side, progressed into a two, three then four lane on the narrow bridge. Soon, the narrow bridge got narrower as one side got blocked, and people kept trying to outsmart one another to get off the bridge which led to a chaotic human traffic flow. As the queue got longer around the bridge, arguments broke out at intervals as people tried to jump lines.
“If I had my way, I would have gone through another route. Believe me, I was on the queue for 20 minutes the previous day before I was able to use the bridge. It is not a pretty situation and I would have said that I hope the government would do something about it, but as you can see, it is the government that is even creating the problem. The bridge is narrow, I simply do not understand what the government is trying to achieve by putting us through this lane.
Normally, people would have crossed but a lot of people were arrested yesterday. So, that has put the fear of God into them. This same experience happened to me at Cele bustop, close to Oshodi. I saw people getting arrested for crossing the road, including an old man.
My question to the government is; what provision has been made for aged, disabled and people with heavy baggage?” Akpan Emmanuel, a trader, who sells clothings at the Ojota market, spoke with New Telegraph, explaining that the situation led to lower sales for him. “The queue started from Ogudu expressway to the bridge. The crowd was so much that most of us could not display our goods for security reasons. People also did not patronize because they were tired and stressed up. I do hope that something is done about his very soon.” Ayodele Oyegoke, a business operator at the Ojota market, told New Telegraph that although his business was not affected, he did not think that what the officials were doing was logical.
“Even if the government officials were enforcing the use of pedestrian bridge, the current situation of things calls for extra and quick measures. As the queues were so long, it would have cost nothing that every 20 minutes, the officials stopped cars on the road and let people cross.
This would have made a lot of sense and reduced the length of queues. It is unfair that people are forced to queue for a long time just to use this narrow bridge.” A KAI official, who asked to be anonymous told New Telegraph that the reason for the enforcement of the law was that it has come to the notice of the government that people die on the Ojota express road regularly and the cause of this could only be that the pedestrian bridge was not put to use, hence the enforcement.
“At least, one person dies weekly along the Ketu -Ojota expressway. This came to the notice of the government and they enforced the use of the pedestrian bridge. It was put in place on Sunday and enforced on Monday. If people do not use the bridge, the government will not know that it cannot accommodate people.
Therefore, when people use it, then the state government will know what to do. All of these are for safety of the people. The story of KAI officials arresting people that did not cross the road is false and a rumour. Our job is to enforce laws placed by the government and give feedback to the government. People have to go through this to let the government know that the bridge is narrow, so that another can be put in place.
It is the right of the people to complain about the queues, while it is our duty to give feedback to the government,” he explained. Reacting to the upsurge of pedestrians on the bridge, the Lagos State Government announced, last week Thursday that an additional foot bridge would be constructed at the Ojota bus stop , to complement the existing one in order to contain the recent upsurge in usage by Pedestrians.
The State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode said so through the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde. He said the decision arose out of the need to reduce the long time being currently spent on the queue by people using the bridge.
He added that the construction of the additional bridge has become necessary after the newly erected New Jersey Wall on the median of the expressway has effectively curtailed indiscriminate dropping and picking of passengers along the highway as well as dangerous crossing of the road on foot by commuters. He reiterated that the need for the construction of the wall, which is similar to the same measure taken between Ketu and Mile 12 axis of the road is meant to reduce fatalities on the part of commuters crossing the highway and the traffic gridlock caused by commercial buses and motorcycles engaging in indiscriminate dropping and picking of passengers.
While commending the orderly conduct of commuters in the usage of the bridge, he urged them to be patient with government until the new one is constructed, adding that the project is expected to be delivered within three months. Ayorinde added that the new bridge will accommodate the special needs of the physically challenged, for their ease of movement.
