By David Afolayan
The Mowe–Ibafo axis along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, located within Obafemi Owode Local Government in Ogun State, has continued to witness heavy daily movement of both pedestrians and vehicles. The axis also hosts major landmarks, including the well-known Redemption City, which attracts thousands of visitors from within and outside Nigeria, thereby increasing traffic pressure on the expressway.
Despite being a Federal Government road with pedestrian bridges already constructed at Mowe and Ibafo, safety concerns persist as many pedestrians still cross the expressway directly at ground level. This continues to expose road users to fast-moving traffic and heavy-duty trucks.
Notably, the pedestrian bridges at Mowe and Ibafo form part of the Federal Government’s Lagos–Ibadan Expressway rehabilitation project, implemented in phases by the Federal Ministry of Works under successive administrations. The project has undergone various stages of construction and improvement aimed at enhancing safety and easing movement along the busy axis.
Over time, the axis has recorded repeated and avoidable loss of lives. One deeply painful incident involved a local butcher popularly known as Baba Eleran, who was attempting to cross the expressway while carrying out his daily business activities when he was struck by a speeding vehicle, resulting in a tragic loss of life that deeply shocked the community.
Despite the availability of pedestrian bridges, many users still avoid them due to distance from crossing points, congestion during peak hours, urgency of movement, fatigue, and difficulty accessing bridge entry points from roadside locations. Consequently, some pedestrians continue to take dangerous shortcuts across the expressway.
As a result, the Mowe–Ibafo axis has become a high-risk zone where preventable accidents continue to occur, leaving families in grief and residents in constant fear.
There is therefore a respectful and urgent appeal to the Federal Government of Nigeria and relevant authorities to install functional traffic lights, pedestrian-controlled crossing systems, speed reduction mechanisms, warning signals, and stronger enforcement measures along the Mowe–Ibafo axis. Furthermore, these interventions are not intended to replace the existing pedestrian bridges but to complement them by regulating traffic flow, controlling vehicle speed, and providing safe and structured crossing intervals for pedestrians.
In conclusion, additional support such as road safety awareness campaigns, improved signage, pedestrian barriers, and consistent enforcement by traffic agencies will further strengthen compliance and reduce risky behaviour. This intervention is essential to protect lives, restore order, and ensure safer movement along one of Nigeria’s most important transport axis.
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