Some residents of Lagos State have expressed concerns over the placement of billboards on pedestrian bridges, citing increased criminal activities.
Speaking to PUNCH Metro on Thursday, the residents said the billboards allow some criminal elements to easily attack pedestrians using the bridge.
According to them, most of the attacks experienced by residents on some pedestrian bridges across the state usually took place on the ones covered by billboards.
A resident who identified himself simply as Demola said, “I have heard of cases of robberies on the pedestrian bridges. Although they happen mostly in the evening, they are also as a result of the coverings placed on the handrails.”
Another resident, Titi Opaleye, described the development as a pressing concern that needed urgent attention.
Opaleye claimed to have had a near encounter with miscreants on the bridge.
She said, “I had a near experience with miscreants on the pedestrian bridge in Yaba sometime ago and that made me stop using it until I learnt some of them were arrested. The government needs to look into the billboard attached to the bridge because that is another pressing concern for us. The government should reconsider this action for the sake of our safety.”
Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, was urged by a social media user to look into the development.
An X user, Ibrahim Folarin, who registered his displeasure over the development while also calling the commissioner’s attention to it wrote, “These advertisement boards are unnecessary and can shield illicit activities.”
Bashorun Adelaja (@ojoboak) echoed similar sentiments, noting that bridges with open sides tend to be used more frequently than those covered with billboards.
“My observation on pedestrian bridges with sides opened is that they enjoy more usage by people who can see what is happening, compared to those that the sides are covered with billboards for adverts. Something can be done about that to improve utilisation,” he wrote.
Meanwhile, Wahab had on his X handle stated that the bridges across the state would be lightened up.
“Thank you for the feedback. The Lagos State Government is working on lightning up all the pedestrian bridges across the state with CCTV cameras,” he wrote.
