The House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government to construct pedestrian bridges at key points on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
The resolution follows a motion tabled in plenary by Rep. Tolulope Akande-Sadipe of the All Progressives Congress Party, representing Oluyole Federal Constituency.
This was contained in a statement issued by Mr. Akande Sadipe’s Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Olamilekan Olusada, and made available to newsmen in Abuja on Thursday.
The motion highlighted the unprecedented growth of Ibadan, which is now the third largest city in the world according to United Nations data.
He said this was in response to the serious safety concerns posed by the absence of footbridges on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
Akande-Sadipe called on the Federal Ministry of Works to prioritize the construction of footbridges at strategic locations along this critical route.
“The Lagos-Ibadan Expressway traverses densely populated areas of the city and is an essential corridor for daily life.
“However, the safety of both pedestrians and motorists is underestimated due to the lack of footbridges.
“An alarming rate of fatal accidents is recorded every day as people attempt to cross highways to get to school, home, work or the market,” she said.
Prime Minister Akande Sadipe has expressed deep concern and highlighted the neglect of footbridges during the construction of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway despite continued claims of safety.
Highways have sadly become what she calls “death traps”.
He explained that the motion recognizes the importance of constructing footbridges at specific locations.
According to her, the locations include Polytechnic, Ibadan toll gate, Felere, Soka, Sanyo, Borwaji, Academy, Eleluku, among others.
According to Akande-Sadipe, these bridges are critical to saving lives, alleviating the suffering of commuters, especially school children, and maintaining the economic viability of densely populated areas.
She called on the Federal Ministry of Works to allocate funds for the construction of pedestrian bridges at the locations mentioned in the 2024 budget estimates.
He called on the House Works and Appropriations Committee to ensure strict compliance with these mandatory safety measures. (South)
Source: dailypost.ng