The Panseke pedestrian bridge, once a multimillion-naira project intended to provide safe passage for pedestrians, has now fallen into a state of disrepair and neglect, worsening with each passing day.
A recent visit by Saving Point Media on Monday revealed that the bridge has become a dumping ground, littered with feces and debris from unknown individuals in the market area.
The bridge is deteriorating rapidly, with its protective shed completely destroyed, leaving the structure exposed to direct rain and sunlight.
This exposure has severely compromised the walkway, especially during the rainy season.
Constructed during Governor Ibikunle Amosun’s administration from 2011 to 2019, the Panseke Bridge was one of the longest in Nigeria and part of a broader infrastructure development initiative aimed at enhancing road networks and reducing traffic congestion in Ogun State.
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Although the overall cost of these infrastructure projects was in the billions of naira, specific figures for the Panseke Bridge were not detailed in public records.
Under the current administration of Governor Dapo Abiodun, the bridge has been abandoned, highlighting a lack of continuity in government projects and a disregard for maintenance culture in Nigeria.
Traders near the bridge told Saving Point Media that no official from the state or local government has been assigned to maintain the bridge, leaving the area vulnerable to outbreaks of diseases like cholera if the feces are not properly managed.
Former frequent users of the bridge shared with Saving Point Media that they have abandoned it due to the foul smell, especially during the rainy season. In the past, some beggars used the bridge as a shelter, but the destruction of the shed has made it unsafe, forcing them to leave.
An anonymous Okada rider in the area suggested that the waste might be caused by homeless individuals using the area for business. He proposed that if the government enforced regulations requiring nearby business owners to maintain the bridge, or if they employed cleaners and imposed strict penalties for those caught defecating or dumping waste, the bridge could be restored to its former glory.
Residents in the area have also urged the government to renovate the bridge by constructing a new shed and ensuring its proper use, preventing the project from becoming a waste of public funds.
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