Residents cry out as Lagos pedestrian bridge turns love nest

In spite of the pedestrian bridge at the Ile-Epo market axis on the Lagos/Abeokuta Expressway, residents of Oke-Odo have continued to risk their lives by dashing across the road.
The development has led to many deaths as fast moving vehicles crush people who failed to adhere to warnings against crossing the expressway.
Some of the residents who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria on Saturday in Lagos said the pedestrian had been converted into a meeting spot for lovers who use the bridge as a rendezvous of sorts.
They also said hoodlums in the area have also taken advantage of the location of the bridge to perpetrate acts of illegality on pedestrians using the bridge.
Some of them complained about their health conditions, including age and rheumatic pains, which prevented them from being able to climb the bridge.
The development, they said, had made some residents, especially those with children, to dash across the road, instead of using the bridge that was meant for their safety and well being.
NAN reports that complaints from the residents to the authorities have prompted the police to increase its surveillance at day and night to ensure law and order in the locality
But in spite of the restoration of order by law enforcement agents, some pedestrians still preferred to dash across the road, instead of using the facility.
A trader, Olabisi Adeogun, told NAN that the reason why she was not using the bridge was because of her physical condition.
Adeogun said: “I don’t have the strength to climb this bridge.
“I prefer to walk across the road, which is easier for me.”
On his part, Daniel Udoye, a banker, told NAN that he preferred to cross the road at night for safety reasons.
Udoye, however, urged the government to light up the pedestrian bridge at night to assure would be users of their safety when they pass through bridge at night.
“By so doing, we can comfortably use the bridge without any fear,” he added.
Adebimpe Adeoye, a business woman, said she avoids the bridge because of the acts of immorality perpetrated by itinerant lovers on the bridge.
Adeoye said: “When I leave my shop every day, I pass through the bridge with my children.
“I do not want my children to learn bad things from what they see these young girls and boys do on the bridge.
“And it is also a big risk for me to take my children across the express because we have fast moving vehicles there.
“The government has given us the bridge to save our lives and not to destroy it, so they need to intensify their surveillance in this area, especially on the bridge.”
NAN reports that officials of the Kick Against Indiscipline in Lagos State said they had arrested over 7,000 persons for crossing the road instead of using the pedestrian bridge.
KAI’s Public Relations Officer, Tunde Olusesi, also told NAN that up to 30 defaulters are arrested on a daily basis.
Olusesi said: “Pedestrian bridges are built to save lives.
“People should try and protect themselves by using the pedestrian bridge.”
According to him, KAI officials will continue to arrest erring members of the public until they imbibe the act of using the pedestrian that was constructed for their safety.
NAN.