Nkechi Uduma
Residents in Portharcourt have abandoned pedestrian bridges in the city because of their poor states.
Some of the residents who spoke to our correspondent expressed their displeasure with government’s handling of the bridges.
One of the pedestrians, Mr.Ndubuisi Nwokeocha, in an interview said he would rather take the risk of crossing the road than use the pedestrian bridges
“The bridges are very dirty and apart from that, there is no handle to grip for people who have phobia for height and someone might fall off from there”
Another pedestrian,name withheld said the bridges need serious maintenance.
” these bridges have become homes for mad people, sometimes you see them having sex there and no body wants to get hurt.
” Look at the handle,they are too weak and it’s even risky using it.
“The state government need to get taskforce after fixing the bridges and enforce people to use it just the way it is done in Lagos state.”
Meanwhile, Mr.Anulika Ndum, a security expert said the worst of the bridges is the one at Presidential bus top.
“Most times hoodlums climb up there to cut the aluminum handles which I believe they sell to make some money.
” If you take a closer look, you can see that most of the handles are missing, my concern is the school children, these kids are not supposed to be crossing the road on their own, that is why these bridges are necessary to avoid road accidents.
” Also,some elderly people go to the immigration office at that presidential bus top for one registration or the other and they are too slow to cross the road.
” This is a serious problem and I think the state government need to pay more attention to security in the state” he said.
