The House of Representatives on Wednesday called on the Federal Government to commence the construction of the Benin–Lagos railway corridor to address growing insecurity and traffic congestion along the highway.
In another resolution, the House urged the Federal Government to review the ongoing Sagamu–Benin expressway project to incorporate flyovers and pedestrian bridges, to reduce the rising number of road accidents along the corridor.
The resolutions followed the adoption of motions moved at plenary on Wednesday, presided over by the Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas.
The member representing Ovia North-East/Ovia South-West Federal Constituency of Edo State, Omosede Igbinedion, in her motion, noted that the strategic highway linking Benin and Lagos had become overstretched and increasingly unsafe for commuters.
She said, ‘The Lagos-Benin highway is currently overburdened, plagued by traffic congestion, dilapidation and rising incidents of armed robbery, kidnapping and accidents.
‘We are concerned that the absence of a railway alternative on this critical route puts strain on the national economy, endangers lives, delays supply chains and stifles regional integration.
‘We note that developing a modern railway line between Benin and Lagos will provide a safer, faster and more reliable alternative for commuters and businesses, while also reducing pressure on the road network’.
The lawmaker further expressed concern that insecurity along the corridor continued to discourage interstate travel and commercial activity.
According to her, ‘The insecurity along the route continues to discourage interstate travel and commercial activity, especially for women, traders, students and farmers transporting produce’.
She added that investment in rail infrastructure along the corridor would enhance both economic activity and national security.
‘An investment in railway infrastructure is not only an economic strategy but also a national security imperative, especially in vulnerable and high-traffic regions’, she added.
When the motion was put to a voice vote, lawmakers overwhelmingly supported it.
Following its adoption, the House urged the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Transportation and the Nigerian Railway Corporation, to prioritise the development of the Benin–Lagos railway corridor under the National Transport Master Plan.
The lawmakers also recommended that security components, including surveillance systems, railway police units and secured terminals, be incorporated into the design and operation of the proposed railway infrastructure.
In her motion, the member representing Ikenne/Sagamu/Remo North Federal Constituency of Ogun State, Adesola Ayoola-Elegbeji, drew the attention of the House to the increasing rate of accidents and fatalities recorded along the Sagamu axis of the Sagamu–Benin expressway, particularly where the highway cuts through the centre of the town.
She argued that the current design of the expressway posed serious risks to both pedestrians and motorists.
She said, ‘The ongoing construction of the Sagamu-Benin expressway has inadvertently created significant safety challenges for pedestrians and motorists due to the absence of designated pedestrian crossings, bridges, and flyovers.
‘We are aware that the expressway has effectively divided Sagamu town into two distinct parts, with the section across the expressway experiencing an explosive population growth, tripling the size of the older part of Sagamu, leading to constant movement of residents, traders, and students across the highway.
‘The House is concerned that the constant human and vehicular movement across a high-speed highway has resulted in fatal accidents involving school children, market women, and commuters attempting to cross the expressway’, she said.
Ayoola-Elegbeji further identified several critical points along the corridor as dangerous for road users, including the Sagamu Express Junction linking Total Expressway with Ewu Oliwo, the RSS Junction linking Area Command to the express junction, and the Ikenne Express Junction connecting the Dalabo area of Sagamu.
She stressed that incorporating pedestrian bridges and flyovers at the identified points would significantly reduce accidents while improving traffic flow.
She added that the construction of such infrastructure ‘will not only prevent loss of lives but will enhance free traffic flow, protect economic activities, and support the long-term urban development of Sagamu and its environs’.
The motion also got the approval of many lawmakers present at the plenary.
Following its adoption, the House urged the Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Works, to immediately review the project design to include the construction of pedestrian bridges and flyovers at identified high-risk areas within Sagamu.
The lawmakers also directed the ministry to liaise with the Ogun State Government to ensure that adequate safety infrastructure is incorporated into federal highway projects within the state.
In addition, the House urged the Federal Road Safety Corps and the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps to intensify public enlightenment campaigns on road safety and provide temporary pedestrian crossings pending the construction of permanent structures.
The House further mandated its Committee on Works to conduct an on-the-spot assessment of the Sagamu axis of the expressway, particularly the Total–Ewu Oliwo Junction, RSS Junction and Ikenne–Dalabo Junction, and report back within four weeks for further legislative action.
