The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing to immediately embark on the construction of pedestrian bridges on the Benin-Ore-Lagos Road expressway in Edo State to save the lives of Nigerians who are forced to run across the highway to go about their various daily activities.
The House in its resolution following the amendment to a motion sponsored by Dennis Idahosa from Edo State at plenary on Wednesday, also mandated mandate the committees on Works and Legislative Compliance to ensure compliance.
Presenting the motion, Idahosa noted that the Benin-Ore-Lagos express road is one of the busiest highways in Nigeria with the high volume of vehicles connecting the southwest to the southeast, north and south-south zones of the Country, the road host several communities and towns among the towns is Okada.
The lawmaker also noted that the road connecting Okada town, Iguobazuwa communities and Benin City on the expressway is a popular Okada Junction, a hub for commercial buses and traders running through over 15 minutes of pedestrian and commercial activities.
“Aware that the lives of Nigerians who go about their daily activities on the Okada junction are endangered by the absence of a pedestrian flyover, thus resulting in the loss of lives.
“Also aware that residents have continually made a public outcry to the government to construct a pedestrian bridge at Okada junction to avert accidents and loss of lives.
“Worried that apart from the dangers to which human lives are exposed, another challenge is that the non-availability of pedestrian bridges discourages residents from hustling for their daily economic activities.
“Also worried that school children, traders and workers have been crushed to death and injured in their attempt to cross the express road,”
he stated.
Also at plenary, the House passed through second reading a bill for an Act to Amend the National Directorate of Employment Act, Cap. N28, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Sponsored by Ganiyu Abiodun Johnson (APC, Lagos), the amendment is to amongst others empower the Directorate to ensure strict compliance with the Provisions and Principles of Federal Character in Employment and Vacancies in the country.