A member of the Nigerian House of Representatives, Adesola Ayoola-Elegbeji, has called on the Federal Government to urgently introduce safety measures, including the construction of pedestrian bridges, along sections of the Sagamu–Benin Expressway to prevent possible fatalities as rehabilitation work on the road progresses.
Princess Ayoola-Elegbeji, who represents Sagamu/Ikenne/Remo Federal Constituency in Ogun State, made the call while speaking with journalists after moving a motion of urgent public importance on the floor of the House.
She explained that the rapid expansion of Sagamu had made the busy highway increasingly dangerous for residents who must cross the road daily to access homes, markets, and transport services.
According to her, the road, which was constructed about four decades ago, was originally designed when the town existed mainly on one side of the highway.
“The road was constructed about 40 years ago when the town was largely on one side. Today, the town has expanded to both sides of the expressway, and residents must cross the road for businesses, markets and other daily activities,” She said.
The lawmaker noted that the expressway cuts through the town in three major locations, with the junction popularly known as the Total junction posing the most serious danger.
Princess Ayoola-Elegbeji warned that the ongoing rehabilitation of the highway would make it smoother and encourage higher vehicular speed, which could increase the risk of accidents if safety infrastructure was not introduced.
While commending Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the ongoing road rehabilitation under the Renewed Hope agenda, Princess Ayoola-Elegbeji urged the government to integrate safety measures before the project is completed.
“We are very grateful for the rehabilitation of the Sagamu–Benin Expressway. It is a fantastic project and my constituency is at the beginning of that corridor. But because the road will be smoother and faster, there will be more high-speed traffic,” she said.
“At the Total junction there is a double intersection into the town, with no traffic control and no pedestrian crossing. People cross the road to get transport, while vehicles from the town must turn across the expressway.
“I am imploring the Federal Government to look into these junctions while construction is still ongoing and implement appropriate safety measures before the project is completed”.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abass who chaired the plenary, referred the motion to the Committee of Works for further legislative action, with the Committee to report back in four weeks time.