Apongbon Fire: Eko Bridge Remains Shut, Says FG

The Federal Government has said it will carry out an integrity test on the burnt Apongbon Bridge in Lagos before it can be reopened to traffic.

The Lagos Controller, Works, Federal Ministry of Works, Engr. Olukayode Popoola, disclosed this with newnsmen following the early morning fire that gutted the popular Apongbon market on Lagos Island.

The fire was said to have damaged the part of Eko Bridge around the Apongbon market which links Lagos Island to Mainland.

Emergency officials had put out the fire which destroyed many shops in the densely populated market while the dampening of the fire was going on at the time of filing this report.

Speaking with our correspondent, Popoola said the bridge would remain “barricaded” pending when an integrity test would be carried out on the bridge to know whether itwould be permanently shut down for repair or not.

Also the Lagos State Emergency Management Authority, LASEMA, has given owners and occupants of makeshift and other shops under the Apongbon bridge 48 hours to vacate the location.

This was disclosed by the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Emergency Management Authority, LASEMA, Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu on Wednesday. According to him, they risk sanctions if they fail to comply with the state government’s decision.

This is coming after a fire gutted some shops under Eko Bridge, Apongbon, Lagos on Wednesday, which badly affected the bridge leading to immediate closure for public use.

Osanyintolu explained that the notice had become necessary to restore normalcy to the environment as well as prevent a similar incident from occurring in future.

LASEMA boss, who lamented the clustering nature of shops and level of environmental degradation caused by the traders, vowed that enforcement team would arrest and prosecute owners and occupants who are found under the bridge after the expiration of the notice.

He said: “The Lagos State Government, is hereby issuing a 48 hours notice to owners and occupants of containerized shops or makeshift stalls under bridges across the state to remove and relocate to designated areas.

“Failure to heed to this notice will attract arrest and prosecution of defaulters, while enforcement team will demolish any structure found in sight under bridges.

“The bridge has also been shut pending when integrity and Environmental Impact Assessment, EIA, is conducted on the bridge to determine the level of public safety.”