The Centre for Infrastructural and Technological Advancement for the Blind (CITAB) has called on the Federal Government to ensure that the planned reconstruction of the Iddo Bridge in Lagos sets a new national benchmark for inclusive and accessible public infrastructure.
Responding to the recent announcement by Mrs. Olukorede Kesha, the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, regarding the demolition and rebuilding of three spans of the bridge, CITAB urged the Federal Ministry of Works to guarantee “complete and uncompromising inclusion of persons with disabilities (PWDs)” in the project design.
Mrs. Kesha had disclosed that the reconstruction—necessitated by past fire outbreaks and multiple truck collisions—will begin later this month and last approximately three months.
CITAB’s Executive Chairman, Mr. Jolomi George Fenemigho, commended the Federal Government for its swift response to the bridge’s deteriorating condition but stressed that the project’s success should not be limited to structural repair.
“We applaud the decisive move to repair the Iddo Bridge and enhance public safety,” Mr. Fenemigho stated. “However, genuine safety and the long-term resilience of a modern bridge must include every Nigerian. For too long, our infrastructure—including bridges, walkways, and roads—has created barriers instead of pathways for the visually impaired and other PWDs.”
CITAB emphasized that the reconstruction offers a rare opportunity to make Iddo Bridge a national symbol of universal design—in full compliance with the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018.
Quoting key sections of the law, the organisation reminded the government that all public infrastructure must provide equal access to persons with disabilities. These include tactile paving for visually impaired pedestrians, accessible curb ramps, and clear, obstacle-free routes to public transport points.
The statement further cited the Act’s provisions forbidding government agencies from approving building plans that lack accessibility features, with offenders risking fines of up to ₦1 million or imprisonment.
CITAB also urged the Federal Ministry of Works to collaborate closely with Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) from the project’s inception to avoid costly modifications later.
“The Iddo Bridge reconstruction is a test of the government’s commitment to inclusive development,” Fenemigho said. “If Nigeria truly intends to leave no one behind, accessibility cannot be an afterthought—it must be the foundation.”
The organisation further called for assurance that renovated under-bridge spaces will remain safe, properly managed, and free from illegal occupation that could hinder pedestrian movement—particularly for persons with disabilities.
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