Some pedestrians on Tuesday called for ease in using the Ojota overhead foot-bridge in Lagos state, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.

The pedestrians complained as they got stranded while trying to cross the overhead foot-bridge by surging and uncontrollable users.

A NAN correspondent, who was at the bus stop at about 7am, reports that many people from both sides of the road were trying to cross the bridge at the same time.

NAN observed that majority of the crowd are those crossing from Ogudu axis to take public bus to stadium or Lagos Island areas.

Police men and bouncers were also seen on both sides of the expressway, including the centre, preventing people from crossing the available way.

When the crowd became uncontrollable, large number of them moved to the expressway, while the bouncers stopped upcoming vehicles for them to cross to Ikeja side of the road.

Some of the pedestrians who spoke to NAN expressed sadness over the time spent trying to cross the bridge without an alternative route.

Mr Idika Mbonu, a trader at Yaba market, told NAN that he came to the bus stop from Ogudu end of Ojota at about 6.45am stranded.

Mbonu stressed that as of 7.32am he was yet to cross the bridge that was less than five minutes walk.

Mbonu said, “This crowd of pedestrians is unprecedented in the history of crossing Ojota Bridge. When I came here, I thought something else had happened with the mammoth crowd.

“I was trying to find my way to the bridge, yet the crowd going and coming through the bridge was scary. At a time, the entrance was blocked as no one could go through.

“I saw police and bouncers on the road preventing people from crossing the expressway; I have to be patient before I could cross.”

Ms Esther James, a student of Yaba College of Science and Technology, who was there for some time said the crowd at the bridge was unacceptable, stressing the need for a wider bridge that could accommodate a large number of people at the same time.

“We have called on the Lagos State Government to build a new bridge that can accommodate the physically challenged, pregnant women, load carriers and the elderly.

“The government is trying to enforce the use of the bridge, which is okay, but look at the crowd today. This bridge was not meant for this crowd,” said Mrs Evelyn Dagodoro, a civil servant.


http://www.punchng.com/lagosians-groan-as-using-ojota-foot-bridge-becomes-difficult/

Ok

Omo see crowd.

Omo see crowd.

Hmmm only in lagos

Since the bridge is narrow and was not envisaged to handle this much crowd at the time of construction, the Lagos State govt may want to consider a zebra crossing sign painted on the road with traffic lights to regulate the movement of vehicles and pedestrians around the area. At least until a more suitable alternative is found rather than make people pass through unnecessary hardship.

kenny987:
Since the bridge is narrow and was not envisaged to handle this much crowd at the time of construction, the Lagos State govt may want to consider a zebra crossing sign painted on the road with traffic lights to regulate the movement of vehicles and pedestrians around the area. At least until a more suitable alternative is found rather than make people pass through unnecessary hardship.

Most drivers don't know about the zebra crossing sign, many drivers in lagos don't even give preference to learners, they are always in a hurry.

One of my worries when Fashola started constructing footbridges that have roofs and other modern facilities is that it makes them attractive to beggers and other physically-challenged people that sit comfortably in them to beg. The population in Ojota is not as the one in Oshodi, yet you don't notice "hold-ups" on the footbridges in Oshodi that don't have roofs. This is the same thing in the "open roof" footbridge in Ikeja Along.

When the Ojoto old footbridge, made with steel without roof was still in use, even when people were forced to use it, it didn't witness "go slow" like this.

The beggers and physically-challenged people on those bridges, who no use wheelchairs to sell goods should be prevented from gaining access to them.

lagos

See this pedestrian bridge is complaining of over-use while the one in Charlie Boy Bus Stop Gbagada is under-used..

And thank God for a new one being constructed in Anthony Oke too

Anyway, Eko for show...

OrlandoOwoh:
One of my worries when Fashola started constructing footbridges that have roofs and other modern facilities is that it makes them attractive to beggers and other physically-challenged people that sit comfortably in them to beg. The population in Ojota is not as the one in Oshodi, yet you don't notice "hold-ups" on the footbridges in Oshodi that don't have roofs. This is the same thing in the "open roof" footbridge in Ikeja Along.

When the Ojoto old footbridge, made with steel without roof was still in use, even when people were forced to use it, it didn't witness "go slow" like this.

The beggers and physically-challenged people on those bridges, who no use wheelchairs to sell goods should be prevented from gaining access to them.

Hope you know that there has been a rapid population expansion since then?
I would suggest that the government build another bridge, a wider bridge to ease the flow of pedestrians simple. This new Bridge should have ramps for the physically challenged and aged.

Nigerians aint used to doing things the right way, they have to be forced

It all boils down to the fuel saga... Many people that had cars has resolved to trecking due to lack of fuel. My pain will be after all this hard times Nigeria still remains the same. #teamGodblessNigeria

The real problem is Nigerians are not organized and are always in a hurry

If those coming down take one side in single file and those going up take a single file there'll be enough room for everybody

pain or no pain dey will soon get use to it

Ambode is working

Mk dem go dere village nah. #overpopulation

Black man's dilemma, especially the Nigerian black man. Always putting the cart before the horse. So the Lagos State government did not know that the pedestrian bridges should be sufficient to comfortably handle the human traffic on that busy axis before anything else?

Why couldn't the government take note of the huge number of people that commute across that major road daily and put the necessary infrastructure in place FIRST, before enforcing compliance? No, instead, typical Nigerian primitiveness, they choose to adopt this bushman stye of KAI! Climb bridge, otherwise I drag you for trouser or skirt carry go mobile court. Now the whole thing is a big impractical joke.

I have nothing to say

More overhead foot bridges need to be built to ease pedestrian movement

Lazy! Use the bridge

Its easier to cross the road, get hit, and die...


#FoolishGrumblers

kenny987:
Since the bridge is narrow and was not envisaged to handle this much crowd at the time of construction, the Lagos State govt may want to consider a zebra crossing sign painted on the road with traffic lights to regulate the movement of vehicles and pedestrians around the area. At least until a more suitable alternative is found rather than make people pass through unnecessary hardship.

well this is a good suggestion but zebra crossing on that ikorodu road is dangerous cuz many road users in 9a do not know what zebra crossing means or else a danfo driver will ask if you are a zebra

Lagos come be like the promise land for Nigerians...

OrlandoOwoh:
One of my worries when Fashola started constructing footbridges that have roofs and other modern facilities is that it makes them attractive to beggers and other physically-challenged people that sit comfortably in them to beg. The population in Ojota is not as the one in Oshodi, yet you don't notice "hold-ups" on the footbridges in Oshodi that don't have roofs. This is the same thing in the "open roof" footbridge in Ikeja Along.

When the Ojoto old footbridge, made with steel without roof was still in use, even when people were forced to use it, it didn't witness "go slow" like this.

The beggers and physically-challenged people on those bridges, who no use wheelchairs to sell goods should be prevented from gaining access to them.

In addition to what you've said, the old pedestrian bridge had 4 access points, 2 ramps for people on wheelchairs and two staircases for others. The new bridge only has two access points (none for people on wheelchairs).

Compare the two bridges below. One has 4 access points (two on each side of the road), while the other has only two access points (one on either side of the road).

DaBullIT:
The real problem is Nigerians are not organized and are always in a hurry

If those coming down take one side in single file and those going up take a single file there'll be enough room for everybody

Take a second look at the photos...concentrate on the 2nd and 3rd one.

We need to decongest Lagos. But how do we do that? By creating job opportunities in other towns and cities I believe. Now again, how do we do that? Is our government working towards that? Too many questions begging for answers that's definitely not forthcoming.
#GodblessNigeria