Pedestrians along the traffic-ridden Oshodi Apapa Expressway have
decried the recklessness of one-way traffic drivers, and called for
construction of pedestrian bridges along sections of the expressway that
witness massive movement of pedestrians crossing from one side of the
highway to the other.
They identified the sections of the
highway that need pedestrian bridge to include: Second Rainbow, Mile 2
FESTAC side and Otto Woff Bus Stop.Some pedestrians, who spoke to Vanguard
at the popular Second Rainbow junction and Otto Woff Bus Stop, said the
situation has conferred on the road the most dangerous road status in
Lagos.
Drivers resort to driving one-way when the major expressway is
blocked by the trucks and tanker drivers going to lift petroleum
products at Apapa. The problem is compounded by motorcycle riders who
also ply one-way, driving at very reckless speed, with little
consideration for pedestrians trying to cross the road. This creates
bedlam, making crossing the road a risky adventure.
A nursing student, Miss Joy Emaku, who plies the road to her residence in Apapa told Vanguard:
“This road has turned into a nightmare to motorists and a death trap to
pedestrians. People die here frequently. It is quite unfortunate that
people have to go through this in order to go over to Apapa. This
situation has made it expedient for an over head bridge to be
constructed at Otto-Woff, seeing that it is a major area that leads to
other major roads in the state.”
She explained that: “There have been countless accidents along this
axis because of the uncontrollable traffic as commercial buses as well
as motorcycles take one-way to avoid the heavy gridlock. As a result of
this, countless souls have been swallowed up on this road when crossing
over to the other side.”
On his part, a businessman, Harmony Ubani, argued that death toll in the area has risen considerably since last year.
“From August to December, 2014, there were at least three deaths in
one month, recorded along this road. I cross this road daily going to
work from Ajeromi and I had to stop for about 20 to 30 minutes waiting
for a safe time to cross the road. Sometimes, I had to go through
Boundary just to be on the safe side.”
“What is most dangerous is the recklessness with which the drivers
taking one way drive. They drive as if they are on their right of way.
Sometimes it is understandable that it is not their fault but they don’t
seem to consider the danger and risk they put the lives of their
passengers,” lamented Chukwudi Ozoadibe who plies the road daily from
Oshodi to Coconut.
“This makes it very difficult for people to cross the road without
risking being killed by oncoming vehicles from either side of the road,”
he added.
Also speaking, another pedestrian, Jacob Lawson narrated his experience seeing a bus driving one-way kill a young woman.
According to him, “It was after Alaba Express bus stop. The lady was
trying to cross to Fatgbems side when the bus coming against the traffic
hit her and she crash-landed, hitting her head on the road. It was the
goriest sight I have ever seen. She hit her head with force and crushed
her skulls into bits of pieces.”
He added: “Do you know how many people that have lost their lives on
this road? I think the only way to stop all these collateral deaths is
to build pedestrian bridges along those strategic locations where people
cross mostly. For instance, Mile-Two FESTAC side bus stop needs a
bridge, Second Rainbow junction needs a bridge and Otto Woff bus stop
needs a bridge as well.”
Recently at Otto Woffe, the media reported a death of middle aged
woman killed by a container that skidded off its truck. According to the
report, the truck driver braked automatically when it tried to avoid an
oncoming bus driving one-way.
The Apapa gridlock has defied all solutions. Deaths and criminal
activities along the axis have become collateral damages. Industry
experts, especially in the oil and gas sector say until the issue of
tank farms clustering at Apapa is addressed, the traffic problem may
continue to linger. There are expectations that the incoming government
will do something about the situation and return sanity to the road.
