Construct pedestrian bridges along Lagos-Ibadan expressway – Reps tell FG

By Bukola Hameed

The House of Representatives on Wednesday, asked the federal government to construct pedestrian bridges at strategic places on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.
The resolution followed a motion moved by the representative of Oluyole Federal Constituency, Tolulope Akande-Sadipe during plenary.

She said this is in response to the critical safety concerns posed by the absence of pedestrian bridges along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Hon. Tolulope Akande-Sadipe.
Akande-Sadipe urged the Federal Ministry of Works to prioritize the construction of pedestrian bridges in strategic locations along this vital route.

The motion highlighted the unprecedented growth of Ibadan, Oyo State, which is now the third-largest city globally according to United Nations data.

She said: “The Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, traversing highly populated sections of the city, has become an essential corridor for daily activities”.

“However, the absence of pedestrian bridges has undervalued the safety of both pedestrians and drivers. Alarming rates of fatal accidents are recorded daily as people attempt to cross the highway to access schools, homes, workplaces, and markets”.

Expressing deep concern, Hon. Akande-Sadipe emphasized that despite ongoing advocacy and the safety implications involved, pedestrian bridges have been neglected during the construction of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway. The highway has sadly transformed into what she terms a ‘Death Trap.’

The motion recognized the importance of constructing pedestrian bridges at specific locations, including the Technical University, Toll Gate in Ibadan, Félele, Sóka, Sanyo, Bólúwaji, Academy, Eléruku, and several others along the expressway.

Akande-Sadipe said these bridges are crucial to saving lives, reducing the sufferings of commuters, especially school children, and maintaining the economic viability of these highly populated areas.

In light of this, Hon. Tolulope Akande-Sadipe urgently called on the Federal Ministry of Works to allocate funds for the construction of pedestrian bridges in the mentioned locations in the 2024 budget estimates.

Additionally, she mandated the Committee on Works and Appropriation to ensure strict compliance with this imperative safety measure.