The Federal Government has vowed to evacuate all illegal squatters under all its bridges, causing damage to the infrastructure in Lagos.
Director, Highways, Bridges and Designs in the Federal Ministry of Works, Mr Omotayo Awosanya, disclosed this when he led top engineers from the federal team and Lagos State on inspection tour of Apongbon, Ijora and Eko Bridges in Lagos Island.
He said the collaboration of the federal and state governments would help to achieve the eviction of the squatters under the Apongbon, Ijora bridges, as well as other bridges in Lagos.
It will be recalled that both Apongbon and Eko Bridges were razed by fire caused by human activities in 2022.
Apongbon Bridge was affected by fire in March 2022 and efforts for its December completion were stalled by another fire that affected the Ijora Olopa section of Eko Bridge on November 4,2022.
The delivery date for Apongbon Bridge was extended to May 2023 because some materials for its repairs were used to start emergency repair of Ijora Olopa section.
The Federal Government later set another deadline for July 15, which was reviewed downward to July 9.
The 4.1km Eko Bridge links the Lagos Island with Mainland. It directly links to Apongbon on the Island side.
Eko Bridge has been undergoing phased rehabilitation but contract for its comprehensive maintenance was awarded in February 2022 and expected to extend to 2026.
On the other hand, the Ijora Olopa section of Marine Bridge damaged by vandals was shut on May 17, 2023 for safety of the public.
The deck on pile bridge caved in on May 16, 2023, leading to immediate assessment and closure.
The team led by the director of highways had earlier had a closed door meeting with Buildwell Plants and Equipment Industries Ltd, contractors on the project at their construction yard in Costain before the joint inspection of Apongbon Bridge both up and beneath, and Ijora-Olopa section of the Eko Bridge.
Awosanya said the downward date’s review for the opening of Apongbon Bridge was borne out of the need to relieve stress commuters had undergone for almost a year since fire gutted Apongbon section and later Ijora Olopa portion
He said when the bridges are re-opened, there will be intermittent short closures to continue repairs.
According to him, an existing contract for rehabilitation of the entire Eko Bridge had reached 50 per cent completion.
The director added that a total of 150 bearings had been replaced with additional 150 to be installed in subsequent rehabilitation works.
He said full scale rehabilitation would continue on other sections of the Eko Bridge, as the contract is meant to last three years.
“We have come here to urge the contractor to reduce five days out of the 15th of July, we are now going to open the bridge on the 9th at 12.00 midnight.
“And a minute after 12.00 a.m on July 9, the bridge will be opened for traffic on the 10th.
“This is as a result of close collaboration between Federal Government and Lagos State Government because we are mindful of the stress the closure of this bridge has caused to Lagosians and we have put pressure on the contractor to open the bridge on Monday for traffic,” he said.
The Permanent Secretary Office of Infrastructure in Lagos State, Mr Olufemi Daramola, expressed satisfaction with the level of work, assuring residents of better motoring experience on the axis after re-opening of both bridges.
Daramola assured that arrangements are at high level towards protection of all bridges.
The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos State, Mrs Olukorede Kesha, appealed to residents to be vigilant and report illegalities and vandalism, adding that they should take ownership of all infrastructure to prevent wastage of scarce resources that go into repairs.
