When the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) introduced pedestrian bridges on Abuja’s highways for minimising road carnage, it was a policy that received wide commendation, because the residents were finding it difficult to cross the highways.
Before the introduction, several concerns and agitation were being mounted from different quarters, including the civil society groups, schools administrators, Municipal council and traffic agencies, clamouring for it in the Federal Capital City (FCC).
Those who planned the city did not envisage that the demand for such infrastructure would sooner or later become a must for the growing capital city like Abuja.
It will be recalled that Julius Berger PLC, a giant construction firm that executed most of the construction works at a time, did not create room for pedestrian bridges because the city was designed with a pre-determined concept to be a settlement for a limited population of civil work force and may be a residents population of not more than 250,000.
However, The FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, took the bull by the horns when he took the action of constructing, at least, six new pedestrian bridges on major roads in the territory as a plus to the already existing beauty of the city as it is done in other climes.
It is disheartening to admit that children have grown in communities and environments where they are not exposed to the good culture of road crossing. The one they all know is the suicidal type of dashing straight to cross highways without thinking of the likely consequences. This very habit has claimed so many appreciable lives in automobile knock downs times without number.
Analysts have opined that even where there are pedestrian bridges whose proper utilization could have prevented such unfortunate knock downs by reckless and over-speeding vehicles, a substantial number of Abuja residents do not find it fashionable to utilize the bridges as they often prefer running across the highway thereby leaving people to the suspicion of attempting to commit suicide.
The FCT authorities, having introduced the seven meters high fence, it was felt that the measure would force the residents to adopt the use of pedestrian bridges in order to become conversant with the culture.
Indeed the innovation has brought about an intervention in the high risk areas by reducing traffic jam at places like Mogadishu Barracks especially in the early hours when traffic is usually over-congested.
Prior to this policy, cases did abound of vehicles knocking down ignorant pedestrians while hastening to cross over. There were also cases of cars colliding.
A multi-sectoral task force has been put in place by the FCT administration with the mandate of ensuring that those contravening this civilized policy are prosecuted.
Th task force would work in collaboration with the Federal Road Safety Corp(FRSC), Vehicles Inspection Office (VIO), Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corp(NSCDC) and Nigerian Prison Service(NPS).
The special Assistant to the FCT minister on media, Mr. Nosike Ogbenyi, announced at the weekend that mobile courts had been established to try those that would be found culpable, and they would also undergo psychiatric test to determine their status before fining or whisking them to the prison.
He said: “The mobile courts are set up but when arrests are made, it is expected that those arrested would not just be convicted; their head will be examined by health experts to see whether they are mentally sound or not.”
He observed that the way most offenders force their ways through the barricades, leaves one to wonder whether they had the intention of committing suicide hence the need to examine their health before conviction.
There have been reported cases of hoodlums and Indian hemp smokers attempting rapes, robbery and other kinds of criminal activities using the bridges in the city.
Reacting to the new policy, a number of residents commended the FCTA.
To a 23-year-old student who gave her name as Jumoke, “it is to me FCTA’s decision of the year. If you do not use the bridge your brain is tested, if it is alright, you go to prison. That is perfect. If one isn’t mentally problematic how can one cross the ever-busy Abuja roads where there are pedestrian bridges? I have never tried it, but I have seen many people doing it.”
Jumoke, however, added that the FCTA should not be tired of sensitizing the residents on the importance of using the bridges.
According to her, there is no enough sensitisation even as the offenders should be using their common sense.
“But I think the FCTA should do more sensitization the the use of the bridges. They should sensitise the residents on the importance of using the bridges.
“Right now, there is no enough sensitisation even though we should be using our own common sense,” she said.