Residents of Oyo State have written to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, about the lack of pedestrian bridges on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, which has resulted in fatalities.
Residents petitioned Gbajabiamila through Tolulope Akande-Sadipe, the lawmaker representing Oluyole Federal Constituency in Oyo State in the House.
Despite Akande-efforts Sadipe’s to persuade members who objected to the petition, the House refused to admit it at its last sitting on December 28, 2022.
Titled ‘Petition for the Safety of Lives,’ it was signed by the Coordinator of CYWEL, Abdulsalam Oladimeji; and the Secretary, Raheem Muhyiddeen.
The petition read, “The above-named organisation, on behalf of the entire people and the passers-by of Oyo State, writes this petition with a great sorrow and heavy heart on how on almost a daily basis, lives are being lost on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.
“We sincerely appreciate the construction of the express way from Lagos to Ibadan. It is indeed a great project. However, considering the wideness of the road and the population of the users on a daily basis, it has become a deathtrap and really dangerous for the users to cross. This has endangered many lives oftentimes and at the same time threatening to others.
“For the safety of the road users and the entire people of Oyo State, we beseech your honourable office to influence and fast-track the construction of pedestrian bridges from Technical University, Toll Gate, Soka, Sanyo, Boluwaji, Academy, Olorunsogo to Ojoo.
“This will indeed gladden our hearts if granted unto us. Attached overleaf are the pictorial evidences of some of the incidents. Thank you in anticipation and we shall look forward to receiving a positive response from you.”
The accompanying document contains gory photographs of persons said to be victims of hit-and-run on the highway.
Akande-Sadipe noted that she would bring back the petition on January 17, 2023 when the National Assembly will resume from Christmas and New Year break if nothing was done to address the demands.
“See why I was frustrated. I don’t give up. I will be back on the 17th with another attempt,” she stated.
The Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, which is 127.6-kilometres or 79.3miles long, is currently under reconstruction.
The expressway is rated one the busiest interstate highways in Nigeria. It connects Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, to and Lagos, the country’s economic capital. It also links Lagos, which hosts the country’s biggest airports and seaports, to other states in the South-West as well other geopolitical zones.