A Tale of Two Bridges

Charles Dickens wrote "A Tale of Two Cities", alternating between England and France and reflecting on the shameless corruption, abuse and inhumanity of the French nobles towards the peasantry. The masses, oppressed for Centuries, rise up at last and destroy their masters.....

This is not about Cities and Nobles but Bridges and Authorities....

Imagine a situation whereby a person or an authority puts a Law in place; puts obstacles in your way so as to force you to break this law and then gain or reap bumper harvest from you for breaking the Law! This is not imagination but reality...

Welcome to "A Tale of Two Bridges".

They are about 20 Kilometers apart. They are of same span (length) and are for pedestrian. They are both made of solid concrete; the first bridge has four stairways (two on both sides); it takes less than two minutes to cross from a side to the other side of the bridge. The second bridge has two stairways (one on both sides) and it takes at least Nine minutes to cross from one side to the other side and don't forget, "they are of the same span!".

I am talking about Ilasamaja and Cele-Bustop pedestrian Bridges.

From all analogies, taking Ilasa bridge is with ease, you'll walk across without any hindrance. You wont see any wares' hawkers, because there is a Law prohibiting any form of trading or hawking on this bridge. Traders are allowed some few meters from the bridge.

But the reverse is the case of Cele-bustop's bridge; you are guaranteed to encounter pedestrians hold-up or "go-slow"; this bridge is the the hub-point of wares' hawker, they've taken over most available space and even the stairways, leaving strip of two lanes for pedestrian's movement. Hawkers have field-days always, the Local Council Authority, which is even located nearby allots tickets to these sellers to operate "legally", if a pedestrian body ventured or mistakenly destabilise a ware, he/she will encounter "a battalion of abuses and curses" or even physical assault or confrontation. You'll see meat sellers, "okrika" and "bend-down" boutique, fruits, tapes/CD hawkers and what have you.

Beneath the two bridges is the ever, vehicular traffic, busy Oshodi- Mile 2 Express way. Any sane person needed not be told not to cross this express, when a pedestrian bridge is in place. Hardly would you see Council Officials at Ilasa Bridge catching culprits for crossing the Express. But the Authority at Cele-Bustop, have paid Officials, stationed at strategic spots on both sides of the road, awaiting prey to bounce on. When caught, they are made to bail themselves out and fined exorbitantly.

The Council/Authority that controls Cele-Bustop area is profiting and reaping bountifully from this chaotic situation, which they created, encouraged and aided by:

• Collecting and issuing "tickets" daily to hawkers on top of the bridge, its stairways and its landing.
  
• Catching "no express-crossing" offenders, fining them and "generating" revenue for the Council or where ever the money goes.

The question now is:

• Is there any moral justification for Cele-bustop Council/authority to bounce on those crossing the express road, since they are part of the problems which mitigated offenders embark on this "suicide crossing mission?"
  
• Did they allow traders/hawkers to take over the bridge and its landing, so that pedestrian's hold-up would always be there and impatient pedestrian would be forced to cross and be caught which invariably would increase revenue for "pepper-soup" and chilled Larger at the end of the day?

• Don't they think of the weight this bridge is enduring daily?

I believe those we voted for are listening, honourable Gentlemen and Women. Let's learn from the "fig tree" or is it borrow a leaf or concrete- since what we are talking about is bridge and solid structure. The authority controlling Cele-bustop should learn from Ilasa's way by;

1. not legitimating trading on the bridge (I'm not trying to block some people's means of lively hood). The authority should provide market stalls in that environ for them.
   
2. Increase the stairs landing from the two, as it is now, to four. This may not be in their jurisdiction, but they should propose it to the arm of government responsible.

"A stitch in time, saves nine". So they say.
Some months back, a trailer carrying a "Goliath container" dismembered part of the bridge at Ilasamaja, even with its solid structure. Thank God there was no causality. This had happened at Ijesha bustop, about 20 kilometer after Cele-Bustop, not quite long ago too. Imagine the causalities, if this happens at Cele-bustop ever busy bridge.
He who God watches, should watch himself too. Those crossing the express road should know that, "Life no get duplicate", think of your love ones at home, who are awaiting your return.
A word I believe should be enough........
Let's make an impact to make Nigeria better than we met it; let's leave a GOOD LEGACY.