A yet-to-be-identified middle-aged man, died, Thursday, after colliding into a barrier placed along the Oshodi-Airport Road, in the Isolo area of Lagos.
The barrier was placed by Hitech Construction Company, the firm during the rehabilitation and expansion of the road, which was also commissioned last year by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The man, who was speeding, skidded off the road and somersaulted severally, when he made a split-second attempt to avoid colliding with the barrier.
An eyewitness, who was driving behind the car, Mr. Abiodun Alabi, narrated that: “I am still in shock. It was like a horror movie. Who would have thought that a new curb would be placed in the middle of the road by the construction company without a warning sign few metres away or an amber light to alert motorists of the obstruction.
“Nothing at all was placed on the highway except for the concrete boulders and the red and white tape, which is mostly invisible at night. I was lucky because I was in the fast lane. It was not so for the guy who just ran into it with his SUV. The car somersaulted in front of me. It is said that human lives are worth nothing in this country. Somebody should be responsible for this.”
As at Friday, workers from the construction company were seen hurriedly dismantling the barrier and moving the curbs into a truck.
When asked what was intended to be done to the road that has been commissioned for use more than a year ago, they declined to give a response, saying they were only acting on instructions.
Meanwhile, road users have lamented the delay in completing the pedestrian bridges on the 10-lane expressway, noting that it endangers their lives.
They appealed to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to speedily complete the pedestrian bridges before fast-moving vehicles crush pedestrians who often use the highway to cross from Mafoluku, Oshodi to Ajao Estate.
A road user, Mr. Chima Izuako, lamented that, “I think the government is waiting for us to record incidences of death before they take actions. How could you construct a beautiful road like this and abandon a bridge that ought to come with it? It is only in this country such a thing can happen. The construction company should be questioned. The state government should not wait for death to occur before they call the contractor to order.”
Another road user, Mr. Solomon Akande, said, “We need the pedestrian bridge to be completed fast at 7 and 8 Bus Stop, as thousands of traders, students and workers live on the other side of the road.”
