Need To Enforce The Use Of Pedestrian Bridges On Highways In Nigeria- Rep. Abass Adigun
Member, House of Representatives, representing Ibadan North-East/ South-East Federal Constituency, Vice chairman House Committee On Airforce, Hon. Abass A. Adigun (Agboworin) on the floor of the green chamber of the national assembly moved a motion on the need to enforce the use of pedestrian bridges on highways on Wednesday 14th July, 2021.
The House:
Notes that pedestrian bridges are usually constructed at strategic points along highways to reduce fatalities on such highways;
Also notes that the importance of pedestrian bridges cannot be over-emphasized as it is known all over the world to have greatly reduced the rate of accidents on highways;
Aware of the dangerous attitude of some pedestrians who ignore the bridges located on such busy highways and continue taking the risk of crossing the ever-busy highways;
Concerned that some Nigerians, mostly pedestrians view the bridges as aesthetic structures and locations for buying and selling, rather than means of ensuring their safety;
Worried that the huge amount of money invested in the construction of the pedestrian bridges appear to be a waste as bridges are hardly used by pedestrians;
Also worried that the defaulters are not ignorant of the essence of the bridges but the absence of visible enforcement agents to punish them for crossing the highway even where the pedestrian bridges are available;
Realizes that unless conscious efforts are made to enforce traffic rules regarding the use of pedestrian bridges, the purpose for which they were constructed will be defeated;
Resolves to:
(i) urge the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) to embark on a rigorous public enlightenment campaign to underscore the need for Nigerians to always use pedestrian bridges;
(ii) also urge the Federal Road Safety Corps to liaise with other security agencies to arrest and sanction persons who cross the highway at locations where pedestrian bridges are provided;
(iii) mandate the Committee on Federal Road Safety to ensure completion.
Debate
Rep. Adigun moved the motion on the need to enforce the use of pedestrian bridges on highways in Nigeria and it was seconded by Rep. Olajide Olatunbosun.
The motion was voted and adopted.
Signed
Director Of Communication And Media
15th July, 2021.