Business
Lagos Residents Demand Bridge, Bus Stop
Some residents of Anthony Village, Lagos on Monday called on the Lagos State Government to construct a pedestrian bridge at Anthony axis on the Oshodi-Oworonshoki expressway.
The residents also urged the government to create a bus-stop on the spot to ease crossing by pedestrians who currently dash across the expressway.
Our correspondent reports that the pleas followed frequent killing of pedestrians by fast moving vehicles on the road.
Mike Adimabua, a telecommunications engineer working in the area said that with the Beko Ransome-Kuti Park on one side of the road, crossing the highway had become more dangerous.
“I suggest the government should build a pedestrian bridge here at the Anthony Oke axis because the place has become dangerous for pedestrians to cross.
“Buses and cars speed particularly here. With a bus stop, they will naturally slow down at this spot,’’ he said.
Adimabua added that residents of the area were used to boarding buses at that spot, “therefore, a bridge there would naturally be a good spot for a bus stop’’.
Mr Oyedeji Adediran, an Accountant who lives in the area, said that erection of a bridge would give residents the impression that government was concerned about their welfare.
“There are lots of problems here. A lot of accidents have been happening here and because of the traffic, it takes many minutes to cross the road. We need government’s help here,” he said.
Mrs Eberechi Ndukwe, a resident and mother of three, told newsmen that crossing the dual carriage way was a task for a mother and her children.
She said: “It is God’s intervention that has curtailed the number of deaths in ‘hit and run’ accidents here. With a pedestrian bridge, lives could be more secured’’.
Rafiu Lukman, an Okada operator, also called for a foot-bridge and bus-stop at Anthony Oke as that would help commercial motorcyclists operating in the area.
A Lagos State Transport Management Authority (LASTMA) official, who spoke to newsmen on condition of anonymity, noted that the absence of a bridge and a bus-stop was making their job more tedious.
“By virtue of no bus-stop here, we have to enforce a no-parking order to keep busses from stopping and this is making most of the residents see us as inhuman and anti-people.
“They forget that we are doing our work. It is important that government undertakes structural readjustment of that highway for safety sake,” he said.
Investigation reveals that it takes residents more than 30 minutes to cross the Oshodi-Oworonshoki expressway because of the free-flowing, heavy traffic on the road.
The facility will be disbursed through participating Microfinance Institutions (MFIs), which will in turn extend the loans to their customers, particularly SMEs, as they directly interface with businesses at the grassroots level.
The Executive Director of COMCIN, Mr. Micheal Ogbaa who represented the Chairman, Dr. Iredele Oyedele (FCA, FCCA), said the initiative is designed to strengthen micro-lending institutions and expand access to finance for grassroots entrepreneurs, particularly women and youths in the informal sector.
Ogbaa explained that COMCIN does not lend directly to individuals but works through its network of microfinance and cooperative institutions, which in turn provide loans to end users.
“We came together to advocate for the microfinance ecosystem. Commercial banks often exclude people at the grassroots, but our members are positioned to reach them. This facility will empower them to do more,” he said.
He noted that the loan scheme offers low interest rates and flexible repayment plans, making it more accessible to small business owners.
According to him, about 90 percent of beneficiaries are expected to be women, who play a key role in sustaining families and driving economic activities at the local level.
“Our focus is on traders, service providers, and players in the informal sector. These are the real movers of the economy. By supporting them, we are strengthening families and contributing to national development,” he added.
Ogbaa disclosed that eligible SMEs with proven integrity and business track records could access up to N5 million each through participating micro-lending institutions. The rollout has commenced in Lagos and will extend to Abuja, Enugu, and other regions, including the South-West, South-East, and North-East.
He said 12 micro-lending institutions have already benefited from the scheme, while 85 applications are currently being processed under the pilot phase.
“Our target is to reach at least 100,000 SMEs nationwide. We are building a platform that connects funding partners with credible micro-lending institutions, creating a reliable channel for financial inclusion,” Ogbaa said.
He added that COMCIN is also working to attract larger funding pools from development finance institutions and private investors, noting that successful implementation of the pilot phase would boost confidence and unlock more capital for SMEs.
“We have seen encouraging testimonies from early beneficiaries. As we demonstrate transparency and efficiency, more institutions will be willing to channel funds through us,” he said.
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