In Maiduguri, residents shun pedestrian bridges for fear of heights, others

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BY NEWSDESK, JANUARY 28 2023, 6:00 PM


Pedestrian bridges are built in major roads in major cities all across the world to improve safety and ease traffic for pedestrians.

These needs, as in other places, caused bridges and flyovers to be built in specific locations in Maiduguri, the capital city of Borno State, given upsurge in population and traffic.

'Before this bridge, we witnessed a lot of accidents here but ever since it was constructed, there was no any accident recorded,' said a traffic warden stationed close to Ramat Polytechnic, one of the locations with a pedestrian bridge.

However, residents do not make use of the bridges as much as it is expected of them. They rather cross the roads and highways by foot despite the obvious risks.

Some of the reasons are:

Gephyrophobia (fear the bridge will collapse)

Some respondents who ply the various roads often said that they do not make use of the bridges due to the fear that it might collapse.

Esther Daniel, a student of Ramat Polytechnic said 'the bridge is made of iron and whenever I step on it, it shakes, which I think is risky and it scares me.'

Similarly, Sadiya Haruna also gave the same reason, noting that she 'can't take the risk.'

Acrophobia (Fear of heights)

Another reason given by our respondents is acrophobia. Acrophobia is a mental health condition in which an individual experiences anxiety when exposed to tall buildings.

Unfortunately, pedestrian bridges pose a feeling of fear to people with such conditions.

Ibrahim Modu, who our reporter interviewed while crossing the road by foot rather than the bridge at the frontage of Elkanemi College of Islamic Theology said 'whenever I climb the bridge, I get overwhelmed by dizziness and feel like falling.

'That is why I don't even attempt using it,' Modu explained.

Distance Some residents however explained that the pedestrian bridges iare far away from the places they want to cross to / from.

This is commoner at Customs Bridge and Flyover.

'I will waste my time if I try using it, imagine going all the way way there to use the bridge just to cross to the other side of the road,' said Muhammad Tahir who was seen crossing the street by foot at Customs Bridge.

Though others shun the bridges, a great number also use them.

Mallam Musa, a fish seller at the Customs Market believes the bridge is of great importance.

'Yes climbing the bridge indeed poses a great difficulty to some people, but using it is safer than crossing the road,' he explained, calling on others to make good use of it too.

Security response Inspector Kabir Usman, a police officer on duty at the Ramat Polytechnic explained that several accidents especially involving students were recorded in the area, as it is a highway with huge traffic.

'Most of the students don't use the bridge, we will still have to take the burden of stopping high-speed cars for the students to cross.

'So you see, the aim of easing traffic and avoiding accidents is defeated. My fear is a scenario where a car might lose control and cause an avoidable accident,' the officer said.

Way out Mamman Moses, a personnel of Borno Traffic Maintenance Agency, BOTMA explained that in order to ensure that residents are law abiding, laws must be enforced.

'Government’s duty does not stop at constructing the bridges, rather, it needs to make sure that its purpose is served.

'With the exception of people living with disabilities and individuals with medical conditions, the use of the pedestrian bridge should be mandatory.'

From personal experience he shared that the 'Lagos state government has assigned personnel to monitor the usage of pedestrian bridges and arrest violators.

'Such laws should be implemented in Maiduguri for the good of all,' he advised.


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