The UI-Agbowo road: The struggles Uites have to endure

 

Picture credit: Billboard 

By Sanni Juliet Oluwadarapupo

I looked both ways hoping and praying to God if I could just get a clearer path. I could listen to my heart beat, ticking just like a time bomb. Each pound was accompanied with a deep breath. While I stood there as the sun flogged me with its rays, sweat crawled from the roots of my hair down to my face. The horns, the screams, the begging, my mind was taken away by confusion. I knew that one wrong move could land me in an unfavourable situation. So I waited…and waited, my eyes fixed on it, hoping to just see a glimpse of a clearer path or perhaps tag along with the crowd, just so I could CROSS.

This scenario reflects the daily reality of what some students of the University of Ibadan (Uites) face. The UI-Agbowo road which connects the University of Ibadan (UI) to Agbowo is a major route for students, thoroughly congested and often tumultuous. Most students, especially those who stay in the vicinity of Agbowo, take this route to school. However, the road comes with its own challenges.

“It got worse”- A Uite

Ever since the road was remodeled, closing the gap in the middle and installing traffic lights. We all thought this change was for the best or perhaps not. The Press reached out to some students to express their concerns. In a dialogue with a student, who requested anonymity, she expressed how unnoticed the installation of the traffic light is, by the pedestrians and drivers. She stated how this has led to increased obstruction, coupled with how limited the road space is, owing to vehicles that are packed around the area. Additionally, she pointed out how some drivers ignore the traffic lights. 

“Since they fixed the traffic light, there has been more obstruction than what it was intended for. Before, there used to be a turning point there and I feel like it made it easier for students to cross. Because there are no law enforcement agencies to enforce the use of the lights, most drivers break the law, especially when it is time for students to cross. The road look more congested”

Opeyeoluwa also expressed the same concerns, stating how ignorant the road users are of the traffic lights. 

“In all honesty, the traffic light for pedestrians, the motorists and cyclists don't follow it. Even when green they do not allow people to cross, you would have to wait a while to cross, sometimes beg. So what is the use of the light? The only light that is functional is the traffic light that is after the First bank. That is the one motorists follow because most times there is an official there. Sometimes motorist and cyclists, especially motorcyclists do not follow the light”

“I was almost hit by a car”- Rachel 

Before the reconstruction of the road, there used to be a traffic warden centered on the road who aids in controlling the traffic, giving way for pedestrians to cross and instructing road users, ensuring nearly close to a smooth flow. Their presence brought a sense of security and assurance especially amongst pedestrians who believed people in uniforms embodied authority. 

Now, with the traffic lights installed and the road revamped, the significance of the warden has diminished. Conversing with Racheal, she expressed how she almost got hit by a vehicle, she also admitted how crossing the road has become increasingly difficult.

“Crossing the road has been so crazy and rough. Both the drivers and the people are not obeying the traffic lights, most especially the drivers. I feel like if the drivers stop when they are supposed to, the people will not have to violate the rule. I do not think there is any improvement crossing the road, since it has been reconstructed”

If you are not begging the driver, then it is either you are in the maze of moving vehicles, trying to navigate your way to the other side. Fisayo shared how most people end up crossing the road between cars as a result of how long they have waited. She also stressed that, despite this risky act, some drivers will still not stop.

“It has always been very difficult and dangerous even with the traffic light installed because the car users are always in a hurry to move even when there is a crowd of people waiting for a chance to cross, only some kind hearted people would stop…In fact, because of impatient people and inconsiderate drivers, people cross in between cars which is very dangerous to me. Despite this, the cars will not still stop for the person to continue crossing to the other side. Although, the traffic guards do a really good job for people crossing the road at that point, but they are not always there.”

With the growing concerns, we cannot help but deliberate on what lies ahead. The installation of the traffic lights, which was meant to regulate the flow of traffic and enhance road safety, has deviated from its primary purpose. In spite of the lights in place, its functionality is not guaranteed, as it is hardly ever working, except for the ones close to First Bank and Preboye area.

Urban mobility experts have long emphasized that road redesigns must be accompanied by proper behavioural enforcement, public education, and infrastructural balance. In a setting like the UI–Agbowo axis, where thousands of pedestrians, commercial vehicles, motorcycles, and tricycles interact daily, the absence of synchronized human and structural control, that was initially made available as at the previous session, creates unavoidable tension. What should have been a seamless integration of modern traffic infrastructure is now a classic example of infrastructural misalignment. Without adequate awareness campaigns, enforcement officers, or road marshals guiding road users, traffic lights quickly lose their authority. Students who rely on this route are therefore trapped between modern fixtures and traditional habits, resulting in a system that appears new but functions no better than the old. Urban planners across Nigeria repeatedly warn that any reform that neglects user behaviour is bound to fail, and UI–Agbowo seems to be reflecting that reality.

The dangers of ignoring traffic rules extend far beyond inconvenience, they directly threaten public safety. According to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), over 30% of road traffic incidents in Nigeria are linked to motorists disregarding traffic signals, pedestrian right-of-way, or general road regulations. Furthermore, a report by the World Health Organization states that pedestrians account for nearly 40% of road-related injuries in low- and middle-income countries, including Nigeria. These statistics underline how simple acts such as stopping at a red light, yielding to pedestrians, or adhering to speed limits can significantly reduce harm. 

When drivers ignore these rules at pedestrian-heavy areas they heighten the possibility of avoidable incidents. Students who are merely trying to get to class or return home are then placed at risk, not because they are careless, but because road users who should prioritize caution fail to do so. This is why enforcing compliance is not optional; it is a critical requirement for campus safety.

As the Yorubas would say, “Ilu tí kò s’òfin, kò s’èsè”—in a lawless town, there are no offenses. Unfortunately, many drivers have taken this proverb far too literally, behaving as though the absence of enforcement is an invitation to ignore the rules entirely.

This blatant disregard for public order may well be our undoing. The newly installed traffic lights, which were meant to enhance safety and regulate movement, are now struggling to serve their intended purpose, largely because many drivers continue to neglect and undermine them. Finally, we ponder if this would be better in the latter days of the session or if students will have to take to their heels, run while screaming to God for urgent journey mercies. This, sadly, is our sorrowful plight. 

An immediate call to action is needed as this situation demands an urgent response. A call to the need for a more effective approach to the use of road and traffic management should be encouraged. Installation of the traffic light is ineffective if it is not being obeyed. Measures such as zebra crossing, a designated area where people can cross, a speed bump, which aids in the regulation of vehicle speed or a stationed traffic guard should be put into consideration to enhance pedestrian safety. While we put actions like these into place, there is a need for relevant authorities to sensitize the public on road safety and management. Measures put into place are futile if not obeyed.

The session has just begun, both freshers and returning students will flood the campus. The pressure on the road will be intense as there will be a surge in activities, a significant rise in the number of pedestrians and vehicles. This is a call to the government and the student union to step up and take action. The decision made today can save a life tomorrow.