Navy Commander urges Anambra residents to use pedestrian bridges

www.odogwublog.com reports that the Commanding Officer of the Navy Out-post, Onitsha, Navy Capt. Mike Oamen, has appealed to residents and visitors to Anambra state to always use the pedestrian bridges for their own safety.

Oamen who made the appeal while speaking to newsmen in Onitsha, Anambra yesterday said that it would be suicidal to cross the Onitsha section of the Onitsha-Enugu road, which is 10 lanes, without using the pedestrian bridges located within strategic junctions along the road.

His words: ``We must thank Gov. Willie Obiano for seeing to the timely completion of these pedestrian bridges along the Onitsha-Enugu road; but our problem is that most often our people here due to rush or anxiety do not use them.

``It is suicidal for one to cross over a 10 lane road, which six of the lanes are speed lanes, without using the safe pedestrian bridges.

``The Nigerian Navy as a force, with the known slogan – onward together – believes that we need everybody to move and progress together with us both in terms of security, socio-economic wellbeing and safety of lives’’.

Oamen noted that he had instructed naval personnel at Uga Junction, which is close to the naval office, to ensure everybody within the junction uses the pedestrian bridge there and for them to do that politely and courteously.   

``Just two days ago, an articulated vehicle on one of the speed lanes at Uga Junction, crashed a young man to death instantly.

``And we and the state government do not wish that to repeat itself in that junction again,’’ he said.

On the on-going construction at the new Naval Base Complex, he said that its first phase had reached 75 per cent completion; while the perimeter fencing of the entire complex, which is 996 plots of land, is in progress as well.

``We have also laid the foundation for the officers, senior ratings and junior ratings quarters and cleared a massive space for our exercise and sports centre,’’ he said.