Lagos state charged 95 people to a special court for crossing the highway instead of using the pedestrian bridge. I almost abused those offenders and probably said good for them. But, then I remembered I was once guilty.
Maybe not once really. Because I was accosted for the first time by an environmental task force officer in mufti around Aswani market when I was still in school.
I was lucky that day, with all my ‘student cred‘ stubbornness and initially asking the guy to identify himself before I followed him.
We later settled the matter when he realized he finished from my school. I promised myself not to ever cross the highway again.
But, hmmm, it happened again. This time, it was at Lekki Phase 1, shortly after the Admiralty roundabout.
Let’s just say I was naive that day because it was my first time there. I didn’t realize there was a pedestrian bridge ahead until one of the Man O War guys working with LCC said ‘oga, you are under arrest‘.
As a Lagos boy you know, I was like ‘officer wetin happen nah?‘. And he said look back to where you crossed, that was a bus stop with a pedestrian bridge less than 1-minute walk away. Why did you cross the expressway?
Waawu. I just calmed down. I was mute for a while calculating what to do next as he took me to one shed to sit. A lady was there too, she was looking pretty disturbed already.
The LCC Man O War officer said the Task Force van would soon arrive and he would hand us over to the officials in charge of traffic offenders for necessary actions.
Arrrgh, oga, please ooo, I came for an interview inside Lekki Phase 1. Please help your bro. He didn’t answer me.
The Man O War guy called the Task Force van, two other guys came to check on us and assured him that the van would be there shortly.
Then, I realized wahala was about to serve me hot catfish pepper soup with fresh palmy early in the morning. I pocketed my Lagos boy vibez one time and started begging. I told the 3 of them I was almost late for my interview.
One asked me to show them evidence, I quickly pulled up the email and they confirmed I was not lying. He told me to call the company to reschedule because there was no way I would not be late.
I called. But no, I didn’t call the company I had the interview with. I called a client who was like an office uncle to me. He was a senior man in the public sector.
My uncle asked to speak with the LCC Man O War guys. The most senior among them, I supposed, took the phone from me thinking the company I had the interview with was on the line.
I noticed he was warm over the phone and maybe my uncle’s client spoke the language he understood.
Long story short, uncle asked me to sincerely apologise to them and promise not to cross the expressway again.
No time, I begged them, in the name of God sef. So they said I could go but if I got apprehended again, my uncle would not be able to bail me out again, lol!
I bounced out of the place, like oya interview na me and you today.
Oh, the lady I met there? I remembered her in a bit and went to check if she was still in the shed we sat in. She was still there and I felt for her.
Since somebody had helped me, let me too help somebody. Abbi?
I went to the Man O War guys’ corner to have a gentleman discussion with them. One of them was like, ‘guy, e be like say this your interview no dey important to you. You still dey beg for woman after we release you’.
Las las sha, they listened to me and when the lady noticed we were talking about her. She ran to meet us and knelt to beg them.
Women and their soft charm ehn? They pardoned her, warned her that next time such happened she would not go unpunished.
I was lucky for the 2nd time. I have not ignored the pedestrian bridge ever since. Thank God for my life.
It’s really disheartening when people get knocked down on the highway in situations where they could have used a pedestrian bridge. Getting apprehended sometimes like I was can be a blessing in disguise.
Considering that road accident are the 3rd leading cause of deaths in Nigeria. I don’t think anyone should be risking their lives crossing the highway.
Ignoring pedestrian bridges is not being smart or fast, it is a really unnecessary risk that could cost one’s life.
