THE belated decision of the Lagos State Government to arrest anyone found crossing the highway at points where there are pedestrian bridges is a welcome one. After enforcement began, the government says it arrested and prosecuted no fewer than 219 persons for crossing expressways in different parts of the state in March. This is good deterrence.
According to the spokesperson for the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps, Lukman Ajayi, the offenders were arrested at Oshodi, Dopemu, Ikeja, Ikorodu Road, Ketu, and Ojota.
The government has stressed that arrests will continue if the people do not obey simple safety rules. In Lagos, it is common to see people dashing across the expressway despite the attendant risks to life. It has caused premature deaths and debilitating injuries to limbs.
The instruction is simple: Use the pedestrian walkway also called foot bridges and not the dangerous expressway. This is sensible.
Yet, many road-users are in a serious dilemma, as there are indeed several issues with some of the pedestrian bridges in Lagos. At night, pedestrians are highly vulnerable to attacks in Oshodi, Ikeja Along, Ojota, Ikorodu Road and virtually all the footbridges in Lagos.
In late March, the government waded in to arrest two suspected miscreants extorting money from traders and other users of the pedestrian bridge in Yaba after a video went viral of the incident.
On March 27, the Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment, Tokunbo Wahab, said the government had dislodged the miscreants sleeping on the Ikota footbridge and traders selling there.
Recently, a man complained on social media that some louts had taken over some of the footbridges and were asking passersby to pay a fee before using the bridge. There are also complaints of violent attacks, especially at night. Layabouts hide there at night waiting for unsuspecting individuals to rob them.
To protect residents and secure these assets, manning these bridges permanently would be good. Neighbourhood Watch officers should run shifts there to keep pedestrians safe and restore sanity to the bridges.
Really, many of these bridges are an eyesore. Most of the railings are either broken or falling off. Some of them are too old and need a total reconstruction. Some have no rooftops. Most of them have become a haven for beggars, who harass pedestrians who are trying to obey the law. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has a lot of work to do if he wants the law to work, including constructing new footbridges at many points on the expressways.
But Lagosians must use the bridges. In many modern cities across Europe, there are pedestrians using footbridges. Nigerian parents should therefore inculcate a culture of using footbridges in their children. It is sensible to climb these bridges than crossing a 6/10-lane-expressway, dodging vehicles at insane speed.
Ignoring footbridges not only endangers the lives of pedestrians but also disrupts the flow of traffic on highways. When pedestrians attempt to cross expressways without using designated crossing points, drivers may be forced to brake suddenly or swerve to avoid collisions, causing traffic congestion and increasing the risk of rear-end collisions or multi-vehicle accidents.
For effective pedestrian safety, the government should raise awareness about the importance of pedestrian bridges, enforce traffic laws and regulations, and maintain and improve pedestrian infrastructure. By prioritising pedestrian safety and promoting responsible road behaviour, Lagos can create a safer city for residents and visitors alike.
However, in the enforcement of these laws, government officials must exercise caution. There must not be harassment or human rights infringement, particularly at points where there no footbridges.
Crucially, government must provide all-round security at all pedestrian bridges.
