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Pedestrian Bridges Abandoned as Risky Highway Crossings Claim Lives in Abuja
Crossing major expressways without using pedestrian bridges has become a widespread and alarming trend in Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, and surrounding areas.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Despite the presence of pedestrian bridges in locations such as Gwarinpa, Gwagwalada, Lugbe, Berger, NICON Junction, Wuye, Nyanya, and Mararaba, residents routinely neglect them—often turning the structures into informal markets, resting spots, or shelters for the homeless.
According to reports, numerous fatalities have occurred as pedestrians attempt to dash across high-speed roads, either due to negligence or lack of infrastructure at key points. In April, a young man was fatally struck by a vehicle while attempting to cross the road at Berger Junction. Eyewitnesses noted that the victim, heading to work, had no pedestrian bridge nearby and opted for the dangerous crossing.
A similar tragedy occurred in early May at Galadimawa Junction along the Kubwa Expressway, where another young man died after being hit by a speeding vehicle. The driver, who narrowly escaped mob action, claimed he did not expect anyone to be crossing the expressway, given the availability of a nearby bridge.
Law enforcement officers at the scene used the incident to urge citizens to make safer choices, emphasizing that pedestrian bridges are vital safety infrastructure designed for public protection.
Bridges Unused, Lives at Risk
Despite the dangers, many residents still opt to jump concrete road dividers and sprint across multilane highways, especially during peak rush hours. Pedestrian bridges, critical components of urban road planning, are often underutilized due to poor placement and long walking distances from transit points.
A local NGO, the Uche Collins Foundation, has called for increased sensitization efforts and public-private partnerships to encourage bridge usage. The group lamented that many people view the bridges as ornamental rather than functional safety tools.
In interviews with residents, mixed views emerged. While some acknowledged the risks, others cited the inconvenience and long distances required to access the bridges as reasons for their non-compliance.
Peter Adebayo, a resident of Nyanya, described the practice of highway crossing as “open-source to death,” and blamed poor bridge placement as a contributing factor. Another resident, Ola Abiola, criticized government contractors for failing to construct pedestrian bridges at strategic and necessary locations.
Ephraim Ager, seen crossing the Musa Yar’Adua Expressway, admitted it was unsafe but noted that many bridges are situated nearly a kilometre away from key bus stops. Meanwhile, resident Ngozi Nnanna urged pedestrians to prioritize safety, saying, “Of what use are the bridges constructed by the government if they are ignored by pedestrians?”
Taxi driver Ikechukwu Ubani added that pedestrians often misjudge the speed of oncoming traffic, which leads to fatal consequences.
Efforts by Daily Post to obtain comments from the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) regarding enforcement and infrastructure concerns were unsuccessful, as calls to relevant officials went unanswered.
The 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) began nationwide on Thursday, with over 2.2 million candidates expected to participate across accredited centres.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The exam, conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), will run from April 16 to April 22 in multiple daily sessions.
JAMB Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, urged examination officials to remain highly committed and professional, noting that the success of the exercise depends largely on their dedication.
He gave the charge during a virtual final briefing for technical officers ahead of the examination, where he also praised staff, ad hoc personnel, service providers, and technical advisers for their roles in the successful conduct of the mock exam.
Oloyede said many of the issues recorded during the mock exercise were due to poor assessment of centres by some technical officials.
He further stated that incentive packages would be awarded to teams that perform exceptionally, particularly in handling exam materials and submitting timely reports.
Reiterating JAMB’s zero-tolerance stance on malpractice, he warned candidates against bringing prohibited items into examination halls.
He also disclosed that biometric verification and real-time monitoring systems have been deployed to protect the integrity of the exercise.
Candidates whose biometrics cannot be verified, he added, will be rescheduled to write the exam at approved centres.
Meanwhile, a NAN correspondent monitoring proceedings at Aduvie International School, Jahi, reported that the first session scheduled for 8:30 a.m. began slightly behind schedule at about 8:40 a.m.
The Commissioner of Police for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), CP Ahmed Muhammed Sanusi, on Thursday inspected security deployments at Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres across Abuja.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
According to the FCT Police Command spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, the inspection is part of proactive measures to ensure a smooth, peaceful, and hitch-free conduct of the ongoing examinations.
The UTME is scheduled to run nationwide from April 16 to 18, 2026.
During the exercise, CP Sanusi assessed security arrangements put in place to safeguard candidates, examination officials, and CBT facilities.
He also engaged with centre supervisors, assuring them of adequate security presence throughout the examination period.
Adeh added that the CP reaffirmed the command’s commitment to maintaining law and order, warning that any attempt to disrupt the examinations would be met with decisive action in line with the law.
Over 700 former terrorists who have undergone deradicalisation and rehabilitation are set to be reintegrated into their communities.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The Nigerian military has also dismissed reports alleging that beneficiaries of Operation Safe Corridor are being recruited into military institutions.
According to African Independent Television, the Coordinator of Operation Safe Corridor, Brigadier-General Yusuf Ali, made this known during a media tour of the Deradicalisation, Rehabilitation and Reintegration Centre in Gombe, North-East Nigeria.
He said many Nigerians still misunderstand the Federal Government’s structured counter-terrorism initiative, which is designed to restore peace in communities affected by insurgency.
Brigadier-General Ali explained that the programme focuses on rehabilitation and peaceful reintegration of repentant individuals into society.
During the tour, some of the participants also shared accounts of their involvement in offences that led to their admission into the programme.
The facility inspection was part of preparations for the graduation of over 700 clients who have completed the deradicalisation and rehabilitation process and are set for reintegration.
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