From Tony Osauzo, Benin
Avoidable deaths recorded from frequent accidents at Okada Junction in Edo State, along the Benin-Ore-Lagos highway, would soon be a thing of the past with the federal government disclosing plans to construct a pedestrian bridge at the junction.
The plans follow a motion requesting for the pedestrian bridge moved by Hon Dennis Idahosa, who represents the Ovia Federal constituency on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the House of Representatives.
The Media Adviser to the lawmaker, Mr Friday Aghedo, who announced this in a statement, said Idahosa was concerned and alarmed by the number of deaths recorded on that session of the highway.
He noted that the construction of a pedestrian bridge at Okada Junction was long overdue considering the daily volume of traffic on the highway.
Idahosa explained that aside from helping to reduce to the barest minimum the number of deaths at that portion of the highway, construction of a pedestrian bridge there would also help reduce the number of man-hours lost to traffic.
He said aside from his primary responsibility of making favourable laws that will be impactful to his constituents, he also has the responsibility of protecting their lives and that of other Nigerians.
“It was in that light that I moved a motion to the effect that a stop should be put on the rate of deaths recorded in that highway by Okada junction.
“The highway is one of the busiest highways in Nigeria and is a connecting route to the South West to the South East, North and South-South zones.
“That junction also serves as a link to communities and towns in Okada and lguobazuwa areas of Edo State,” the lawmaker added.
