Three years after the construction of three pedestrian bridges at N156.3 million in Minna, the Niger state capital, over 90 per cent of the residents in Minna are not using them.
Pedestrian bridges are specially designed for the people and in some cases cyclists, animal traffic to further enhance the safety of road users.
These bridges, which are located at the College of Education junction, Mobile roundabout and Kure Ultra-modern market were constructed to avoid crossing of roads by feet which sometimes causes fatalities.
It has become normal to see students crossing the roads instead of using the bridges, which are located right by their schools. You also see parents crossing the roads with their children on daily basis.
It has become frustrating for the state government, which is not able to enforce the use of these bridges to avoid accidents as a result of road crossing by foot.
Road deaths and injuries are predictable and preventable, head-on fatalities occur on single lane roads, run off-road fatalities occur on the roads while pedestrian fatalities occur where sidewalks are missing, safe crossing facilities do not exist or speeds are inappropriate.
In the International Road Assessment Programme (IRAP), Global Vaccines for Roads report reveals that daily, 3626 lives are lost to road crashes with 20,865 limb fractures; 9,090 internal injuries while the annual global economic cost of road traffic injuries is estimated at $1,850.
The report which is based on 358,000 kilometres in roads across 54 countries, 85 per cent of roads where pedestrians are present and traffic flows at 40 km/h or more have no formal footpaths or sidewalks.
The report further stated that 92 per cent of roads where pedestrians cross and traffic flow at 40 km/h or more, have no pedestrian crossing facilities while 22 per cent of pedestrian crossings are poorly signed or maintained.
The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs, include targets to halve the number of global deaths and injuries, which is target 3.6 and target 9.1 which ensures that transport is safe and sustainable, hence the need for the use of pedestrian bridges to keep the road users safe while using the roads.
Pedestrian bridges are not meant to be mere architectural designs; they are meant to complement safer road use and is in line with the second pillar of the UN Decade of Action for road safety, which spells out the need to enhance the safety of road network for the benefit of all road users, especially most vulnerable ones: pedestrians, motorcyclists and other exposed road users.
While governments across the world, especially in Nigeria spend millions in erecting pedestrian bridges in its bid to prioritize pedestrians safety and ensure safety on the road, their efforts seem not to have been reciprocated by the people who often ignore these bridges and proceed to cross the ever-busy roads on foot.
The same attitude on the use of pedestrian bridges, is found in Abuja, Lagos and other states in Nigeria. In some of these states, governments put in measures to force the people to use the pedestrian bridges.
In the Federal Capital Territory, there are about six pedestrian bridges along Area 1, Finance Junction (Wuye), Nnamdi Azikiwe Expressway by Banex Junction, NICON Junction, VIO Junction (Mabushi), Ladi Kwali Way by Sheraton Hotel and others along the Kubwa Expressway.
Some of the measures adopted by the Lagos state government and in some parts of Abuja include enforcing fine on anyone crossing the road when the pedestrian bridges are close-by. Barriers or drainages to barricade the roads are also built to discourage people from crossing the roads. But majority of the people still jump these barricades and drainages to cross these roads.
According to programme manager of Kwapda’as Road Safety Demand Trust Fund, Ayomide Akinpelu, the use of pedestrian bridges in Nigeria remains very low despite the number of pedestrian bridges in Abuja, Lagos, Minna and other cities across the country.
“In Nigeria, we have a lot of jaywalkers in various cities in the country.”
Ayomide, however said that majority of pedestrian bridges in Nigeria, especially in Abuja are not fit for use. He adds that they are only fit for purpose since adequate baseline data is not there to support the installation of the bridges in many areas they are located.
The programme director further stated that another reason why people don’t make use of the pedestrian bridges is because of reports of attacks on them by some thugs in some areas of the FCT, especially in the night,
What can be done?
According to Ayomide, education and raising awareness as well as infrastructural improvement, is key in addressing the issues of non-usage of the pedestrian bridges.
He further advises that data collection is very important in road safety development, stressing the need for adequate data to be collected before installing pedestrian bridges.
Ayomide then urged the FG to create road safety education to sensitise road users of the importance of pedestrian bridges. He added that there should be an improved enforcement of traffic rules and regulations to target jaywalkers.
The Executive Director, Global Alliance of NGOs for Road Safety, Lotte Brondum thinks it is because of the non-involvement of pedestrians in planning the road infrastructure.
Lotte explained that pedestrians and cyclists, who make up 44 per cent of road fatalities across the continent, are among those most at risk on the road.
“In African cities, over a third of citizens move between their daily activities on foot or by bicycle. Only 2% of citizens have access to a private car.
“It is really important that authorities involve pedestrians in the planning of infrastructure that is designed to keep them safe and prevent road fatalities.
“If people don’t use that infrastructure, it will not solve the problem it was supposed to. If footbridges are not built where people need to cross or are difficult to access or force pedestrians to walk long distances to cross the road, they will not be used and will not achieve their purpose to keep people safe.
“It is therefore essential that roads are built with the needs of pedestrians in mind, not just the convenience of drivers.”
Why we do not use the pedestrian bridges
Some of the people interviewed by AsheNews disclosed that they feel it a waste of time and energy to climb up the bridges when they can easily cross the road within seconds.
Speaking to some students at the Government Day Secondary School and Government Girls Secondary School in Minna, where one of the pedestrian bridges is located, they said they do not feel it is important to cross the bridge.
“There is nothing wrong with crossing the roads. Most of us don’t use the bridge because it is stressful. Why will you climb up and down when you can just cross here to the other side without any stress”, one of the students, Danladi said.
“I have never used the bridge at all. Since I started this school, I haven’t crossed the bridge. None of us has been using it”, Sadiya, a JSS 2 student said.
Rose Guni, who frequently visits the Kure Ultra-modern market, where another pedestrian bridge is located, said that she has never had interest in using the bridge ever since it was erected.
“How will I use my goods to climb this bridge? It will be very stressful for me. I have never done it and I do not think I can use it. Look at it, do you see anyone using it? It is mostly the Almajiris who climb there to play or to sleep in the afternoon.”
Over 30 per cent of road traffic crashes can be avoided if people make use of the road infrastructure set up for them by government for their safety and well being.
On its part, the Kwapda’as Road Safety Demand Trust Fund is contributing significantly in partnership with the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, to reduce the number of road deaths and crashes on our roads.
The NGO is focused on road users’ behaviour and post-crash response under the five pillars of UN decade of action on road safety. They engage in road safety campaigns and sensitization, targeted road safety education, victims support and research.
The organization is making efforts in creating awareness program with the help of the Global Alliance of NGOs for Road Safety to increase the usage of pedestrian bridges in Abuja.
