Brighter Bridges, Safer Lagos: LJLA Fellows Launch Solar-Powered Lighting To Improve Pedestrian Safety

By BENJAMIN OMOIKE

LAGOS, Nigeria – In a bold move to enhance public safety and deter crime on pedestrian bridges across Lagos, the 2024/2025 Fellows of the Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy (LJLA) have unveiled a flagship initiative titled “Brighter Bridges, Safer Lagos.”

The project, officially launched during a press briefing on Thursday in Alausa, introduces solar-powered smart lighting systems on pedestrian bridges, beginning with the Alausa–CMD corridor.Spearheaded by Fellow Damilola Shin-Aba, the initiative addresses mounting concerns over pedestrian safety on unlit bridges, which have increasingly become hotspots for robbery, harassment, and fatal road crossings.

According to the LJLA team, many Lagosians are forced to avoid dark pedestrian bridges at night, risking their lives by crossing busy highways instead.

“Each day, millions of Lagosians depend on pedestrian bridges, yet too many remain engulfed in darkness after sundown,” Shin-Aba stated. “This project is our proactive response—harnessing solar technology, promoting safety, and fostering community involvement.”

In the pilot phase, 55 high-efficiency solar-powered LED lights were installed along the Alausa–CMD bridge and its staircases. The system features anti-theft components and smart energy management tools to ensure durability and sustainability.Following the successful pilot, the fellows plan to expand the project to Iyana-Oworo, a critical pedestrian hub that links the Lagos mainland to the Third Mainland Bridge. The area has long been a security flashpoint, with ongoing efforts by law enforcement to curb extortion and criminal activities on the bridge.

Preliminary technical assessments and site designs for the Iyana-Oworo bridge have been completed, with installation and community outreach activities scheduled to commence in the coming weeks.The LJLA team envisions replicating this model across other high-risk pedestrian bridges throughout Lagos. To ensure accountability and impact, the project will track key metrics such as lighting uptime, public satisfaction, and incident reports, in collaboration with the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC) and the Rapid Response Squad (RRS).The initiative supports several government frameworks, including Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s THEMES+ agenda, the Lagos Smart City Blueprint, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

As Lagos continues to grapple with urban safety challenges, “Brighter Bridges, Safer Lagos” offers a replicable and community-driven solution that merges innovation with public good.