1st July, 2010
Ojota bus stop, a popular bus terminus in Lagos, Nigeria, this morning was turned into a war zone with several commercial motorcyclists (okada) riders and pedestrians arrested for not using the pedestrian bridge.
Security agents at the scene include the Lagos State Government Special and Environmental Offences Unit, teams of mobile policemen (MOPOL), officials of the Lagos State Transport Management Authority (LASTMA) and the Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO).
There were clashes between Okada riders and policemen who were drafted to the scene this morning.
Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Professor Bamidele Badejo who spoke with P.M.NEWS at the scene of the clash said the drastic move was aimed at enforcing law and order.
Badejo said many people had been crushed by hit and run vehicles when they tried to cross the road.
The transportation commissioner said it can never be too late to enforce the law barring pedestrians from crossing since the Lagos House of Assembly has approved the law.
There was a long queue of pedestrians wanting to use the bridge while a few people cross the road and were chased by law enforcement agents.
Part of the drama at the bus stop was a young man who crossed the road as he was chased by security agents, he escaped. And a waiting crowd was cheering the young man while jeering at the government agents.
Pedestrians have continued to wonder how long the queue would remain at the Ojota pedestrian bridge. But government agents were not willing to bend the rule – insisting that all pedestrians must use the bridge.
—Simon Ateba/Paul Sanusi