Residents of Ado and One-Man Village in Nasarawa State have urged the Federal and State Governments to build pedestrian bridges on the Abuja-Keffi Expressway for pedestrians’ safety.
They residents cited difficulties in crossing the highway following its ongoing expansion.
They expressed concern over the safety of schoolchildren, the elderly and other pedestrians, saying the absence of pedestrian bridges had exposed them to accidents.
Mr Peter Abah, Chairman of Transformer Community in Ado village, commended the governments for expanding the highway to ease traffic congestion, but said the project had made crossing the road difficult.
Abah said the community had recorded numerous accidents since the expansion work began, including the death of a church member who was knocked down while crossing the highway.
“About two weeks ago, I lost one of my church members on the highway due to the volume of traffic.
“At this stage, crossing the road has become a situation of human beings against machines because of the widening of the highway.
“My church member was knocked down while crossing the road and died instantly. We attended the burial just last week,” he said.
He urged the governments to construct pedestrian bridges at Ado and One-Man village to enable residents to cross the highway safely.
“We appreciate the Nasarawa State and Federal Governments for expanding the Abuja-Keffi Expressway, but pedestrian bridges are necessary, especially around the Ado axis.
“We need government intervention to provide at least two pedestrian bridges at Wama and Ado to protect Nigerians from the dangers of crossing the highway,” he said.
Abah also expressed concern over motorists, particularly commercial motorcyclists and tricycle operators, who allegedly drove against traffic on one-way sections of the highway.
He said community members, in collaboration with local vigilantes, had made efforts to stop the practice, including reporting offenders to the police, but the situation had persisted.
“We have tried our best, together with the local vigilantes, and sometimes report the offenders to the police, but the problem continues.
“When pedestrians check for vehicles approaching from either direction before crossing, they may suddenly encounter a motorcycle coming from the opposite direction against traffic.
“The government needs to address this practice because it is endangering innocent lives,” he said.
Similarly, Mrs Lucy Ekakana, a resident who said she narrowly escaped an accident, called for pedestrian bridges at Ado and One-Man villages.
Ekakana said crossing the highway had become increasingly difficult since the commencement of the expansion work, adding that motorists and commercial motorcyclists posed risks to pedestrians.
She cited the case of a neighbour who sustained a serious leg dislocation in an accident in Ado in March while returning from work.
According to her, the victim did not notice a motorcycle approaching from the wrong direction before the accident occurred.
Ekakana also recounted how a motorcycle nearly hit her and her baby while they were crossing the road.
“I am appealing to the government to construct pedestrian bridges at Ado and One-Man village to enable residents to cross safely.
“Our children also use the road when returning from school, and we are worried about their safety,” she said.
Mrs Martha Victor, a mother of three, also commended the government for the road expansion, but said the difficulty of crossing the highway had become a major concern for residents.
“We appreciate the government’s efforts in expanding the road, but our major challenge now is crossing it.
“Our children are suffering because crossing the road has become difficult for both children and adults. We appeal to the government to provide a pedestrian bridge,” she said.
Miss Peace Eric, a student, said she had been involved in an accident on the highway, also called for the construction of pedestrian bridges.
Eric said she was crossing the road when a speeding tricycle approached her and the driver was unable to stop in time.
“I appeal to the government to construct a pedestrian bridge at the bus stop to make it easier and safer for pedestrians to cross the road,” she said.
The residents urged the relevant authorities to consider pedestrian safety alongside the ongoing expansion of the highway.
