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Tag: pedestrian bridge

  • Five-Star pedestrian bridge collapses in Lagos

    Five-Star pedestrian bridge collapses in Lagos

    • By Halimah Balogun

    Pedestrians and Motorists on the busy Oshodi-Apapa Expressway in Lagos yesterday escaped death after the Five-Star foot bridge collapsed.

    The bridge, it was gathered, partially collapsed around 6:30am, blocking a part of the road.

    According to the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), preliminary investigations revealed that articulated truck carrying heavy equipment collided with the bridge earlier in the day, causing cracks and subsequent collapse.

    Read Also: JUST IN: KAI conducts clearance operations on Lagos pedestrian bridge, arrest 12 persons

    To ensure public safety, LASEMA cordoned off the entire bridge and initiated decommissioning efforts to remove remaining concrete members.

    LASEMA’s heavy-duty equipment (Goliath) was deployed to evacuate the impediment and prevent secondary incidents.

    As of the latest update, recovery operations are ongoing, with efforts focused on completely removing all concrete debris from the road.

  • EDSTMA charges UNIBEN students on use of pedestrian bridge

    The Edo State Traffic Control and Management Agency (EDSTMA) has charged students of the University of Benin and other pedestrians in the Ugbowo axis of Benin City to take advantage of the newly constructed pedestrian in the area to mitigate against road accidents.

    Managing Director, EDSTMA, Oloriegbe Dennis Ade, speaking during a sensitization campaign at the pedestrian bridge adjacent UNIBEN main gate, said that the exercise is to engage the students and other pedestrians on the importance of using the bridge and other road safety tips.

    READ ALSO: JAMB suspends UNIBEN CBT centre, eight others

    According to him, “We are here today on a sensitization programme for the students and pedestrians. We have recorded a number of casualties from students crossing the road without adhering to precautionary measures. So, the state built the bridge to provide them with a safe way to cross the road.

    Some officials of the Edo State Transport Control and Management Agency (EDSTMA) during a sensitization campaign at the pedestrian bridge adjacent UNIBEN main gate.

    “We are here with our full sensitization team and would want the students to know that this is a project for them and that it would only be foolhardy to have a pedestrian bridge here and they would not use it.”

    Charging the students to make good use of the bridge for their safety, he said that the state government and EDSTMA are concerned about the welfare and safety of the students, which informed the sensitization campaign.

    One of the students, Mis. Etinosa Igbinoba, applauded the state government for the project, and suggested that a rail guide be constructed to demarcate the road so as to discourage pedestrians from crossing the road in spite of the pedestrian bridge.

    Some officials of the Edo State Transport Control and Management Agency (EDSTMA) during a sensitization campaign at the pedestrian bridge adjacent UNIBEN main gate.

  • Traders seek pedestrian bridge at Toyota bus stop

    Traders at auto parts market in Ladipo, Mushin, Lagos have appealed to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to build a pedestrian bridge at Toyota bus stop.

    The bridge, they said, would help road users in  crossing the Oshodi/Apapa Expressway.

    They spoke through their President-General, Mr. Jude Nwankwo, when the House of Assembly Committee on Commerce and Industry led by Jude Idimogu, (Oshodi-Isolo Constituency II), visited the market at the weekend.

    Nwankwo urged the government to expedite action on the ongoing road rehabilitation in the market, saying customers found it difficult to access the area.

    He said there were 45 associations in the market, adding that commercial activities had been affected because of the bad roads.

    “We need a pedestrian bridge at Toyota bus stop, as thousands of our traders live on the other side of the road.

    “Many have died while crossing the Apapa/Oshodi Expressway. We also need public toilets. We will ensure maintenance of the roads and toilets once constructed.

    “We appreciate Governor Ambode’s feat in the state, especially at Ladipo market. But it is important that work on the road is hastened up, to ease our business,” Nwankwo said.

    Idimogu said the visit followed the directives of Speaker Mudashiru Obasa to ascertain challenges faced by traders.

    He said the building of the bridge was important to ensure safety.

    According to him, the governor has promised to build  the bridge once the Airport Road is completed.

  • Foundation inaugurates pedestrian bridge in Sokoto

    The United Bank for Africa (UBA) Foundation yesterday inaugurated a pedestrian bridge at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto.

    Inaugurating the bridge, the Group Managing Director of UBA, Mr Kennedy Uzoka, said the construction of the bridge was part of the bank’s efforts to give back to the society.

    Uzoka also said the bank deemed it necessary to construct the bridge, to cushion the suffering of the students of the institution.

    “Today’s event is very symbolic. We believe in the society we operate in and this gesture is part of efforts of the UBA Foundation to give back to the society.

    “I strongly believe that with this bridge, students can move freely and will not have to go a long distance to reach their hostels.

    ‘’So, this saves time and will enable them to study harder,” he said.

    He said the Foundation gave priority to education through scholarship to Nigerian students; improve environment and empowered many people with a view to impacting on the society.

    According to Uzoka, UBA is creating a new narrative for Africa capable of making Africans run organisations that can stand the test of time for over 100 years.

    In his remarks, Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, who spoke through the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Bashir Garba lauded the UBA Foundation for the gesture.

    He called on other banks operating in the state to emulate the footstep of the bank by giving back to the society.

    “We need more of these interventions to public universities in order to improve teaching and learning.

    ‘’I really commend Tony Elumelu and the Group Managing Director for coming to the aid of the students,” the governor said

    Tambuwal, therefore, renamed the bridge ‘Tony Elumelu UBA Pedestrian Bridge’.

    The Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Abdullahi Zuru, described the construction of the pedestrian bridge as unprecedented.

    He said it would go a long way in taking care of the challenges facing the students.

     

     

     

  • Photos: Endless queue at Ojota

    Photos: Endless queue at Ojota

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  • Traders beg Ambode to construct Toyota pedestrian bridge

    Traders beg Ambode to construct Toyota pedestrian bridge

    The Aguiyi Ironsi International section of Ladipo Auto Market traders have pleaded with the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. AkinwunmiAmbode to as a matter of urgency, construct a pedestrian bridge at Toyota Bus Stop, along Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, to save their lives from untimely death.

    The traders also want the governor to order the state ministry of works to reconstruct Five-Star Road that leads to the market immediately.

    Speaking during the swearing in of members of new executive of AguiyiIronsi International Auto Market Traders Association, the chairman, Chief Cyril Onyemaechi a.k.a. Honesty, said so many traders and their customers had been killed in the past by hit and run drivers at Toyota Bus Stop while crossing the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway to their shops at Ladipo market. The association’s election was held peacefully on Thursday July 28, 2016, under the watchful eyes of security agents, journalists and other stakeholders.

    The newly elected officers are Chief Onyemaechi, Chairman; Mr. Festus Obinali, Vice-chairman; Anthony Nwazelibe, General Secretary; Victor Nnaji, Assistant secretary; NkemakonamOzoemena, Financial secretary; ChikeOkonkwo, Treasurer; Emmanuel Mbamara, PRO, Emmanuel Aroh, Assistant PRO; UzomaOnyemaobi, Welfare; Ezeh Darlington, Provost and Lotenna Okolo, Assistant Provost.

    Speaking further on the poor state of the roads leading to the market, Onyemachi said, the Five-Star road is no longer passable to bring their goods into the market and wants the government to come to their aid.

    He said his executive would cooperate fully with the law enforcement agencies to ensure peace in the market and ward off any criminal activities. The traders Onyemaechi assured, would continue to fulfill their statutory obligations by paying their taxes and rates as at when due. The new chairman sought the full support of all the traders, including those who lost the election for a successful tenure.

  • Commuters demand pedestrian bridge at Toyota Bus Stop

    Commuters demand pedestrian bridge at Toyota Bus Stop

    •‘Many have died here ‘

    ROAD users are complaining about the absence of a pedestrian bridge at the Toyota Bus Stop on Apapa-Oshodi Expressway. They said the axis, which they described as an accident spot, has become a death trap. Commuters run into trailers, buses and other vehicles, while trying to cross the road, they said.

    The nearest pedestrian bridge to Toyota is at Five-Star bus stop, which they claimed is too far.

    An auto parts dealer, Felix Ugochukwu, said many traders at Ladipo market have died on the expressway.

    He said: “By this time of the day, a lot of people cross the road and it causes traffic because vehicles slow down for people to go. You know there are three lanes here, so most times when we come to the market, we see people crushed, lying dead on the roadside. A lot of people have lost their lives here. This place needs a bridge to help people cross the airport road after finishing from their various duties. Erecting a bridge here would reduce avoidable accidents, which sometimes lead to loss of lives.  Two months ago, a colleague was crushed by a car while trying to cross the road. It is very important for government to know the problem the people are facing.”

    Another trader, who simply identified himself as Lotanna, said the traffic gridlock on the highway was caused by Danfo buses, which stop to picked passengers at the bus stop.

    He said: “We have experienced a lot of accidents here; something bad happened that was why I left the area I was before. When you see a trailer coming, the next thing is that they will try to climb the airport road, and in the process the brake fails and the trailer will be moving back and vehicles behind it are in trouble. Sometimes the trailer drivers run into people while trying to navigate their way out of the traffic. If the government puts a pedestrian bridge, it will be easier for people to cross. Apart from erecting the bridge, they should stop the bus driver from picking passengers from the place. They should create an official bus stop for them and not on the highway. Yesterday, a trailer was coming with speed and it hit a Hilux. The injured people were rushed to Isolo General Hospital. The one that really pained me was an importer who after selling his goods was going home with N140, 000 in the process of crossing the road, a car crushed him and he died.”

    An official of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) also pleaded for the government’s intervention, noting that it is tedious working there.

    He said: “If the government can erect a bridge here, even we working here will be relieved. The trouble here is too much. It is difficult to control trailers, tankers and bus drivers at the same time with people crossing the express. Many of those trailers’ brakes fail. So the government should provide a bridge for the people crossing the express.”

  • Assembly seeks pedestrian bridge on Apapa-Oshodi expressway

    Lagos State House of Assembly yesterday urged the Federal Government to provide a pedestrian bridge at Toyota Bus Stop on Oshodi-Apapa Expressway.

    The House also called on Lagos State Government to put road signs and zebra crossing on strategic areas of the road and ensure motorists’ compliance.

    The resolution followed a motion brought under Matter of Urgent Public Importance by Jude Idimogu from Oshodi Constituency 2. The lawmaker said many road users have died, while crossing the road.

    He said it was imperative for the states and Federal Government to do something about the road, where he said many lives were lost daily.

    Supporting him, Desmond Elliot form Surulere Constituency 2, said he lost his mother-in-law on the road while crossing when she went to buy foodstuff at Daleko Market.

    Speaker Mudashiru Obasa said: “It would be impossible for the Lagos State Government to provide the bridge, especially this year as it was not catered for in the budget. It is a Federal Government road, but the state government can provide palliatives.

    “We must ensure that motorists are made to obey the road signs that would be provided on the road for the benefit of our people.”

  • Onolememen stresses use of pedestrian bridge

    Minister of Works, Arch. Mike Onolememen has urged students of the Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, to always use the pedestrian bridge built across the Benin-Abuja express way.

    The construction of a pedestrian bridge in front of the polytechnic has been a major demand of staff and students of the polytechnic to help check road accidents on the highway

    Onolememen warned that students who failed to use the pedestrian would be responsible for any accident that might result on the road occasioned by the dualisation of the Benin-Abuja road.

    He spoke at the inauguration of the pedestrian bridge at Auchi in Estako West Local Government Area.

    The Minister noted that incidents of hit and run driver at the school gate would be completely eliminated.

    Other projects inaugurated by the Minister were the Weppa River Bridge, Bridge over Okio River and Ekperi-Fugar Road off Auchi Polytechnic-Ekperi-Agenebode Road.