Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has announced the reopening of the Apongbon bridge section of Eko Bridge, more than 15 months after it was closed due to a devastating fire outbreak in the area. The reopening of the bridge brings much-needed relief to motorists and commuters who have endured months of inconvenience traveling to and from Lagos Island.
The governor’s announcement was made through a tweet by his Chief Press Secretary, Gboyega Akosile, on the governor’s official Twitter account. Sanwo-Olu confirmed that the repair work at the Apogbon axis has been completed, but maintenance activities will continue on the infrastructure, resulting in intermittent closures in the coming months.
Sanwo-Olu conveyed the Federal Government’s apology to Lagos residents for the delay in reopening the bridge, emphasizing the importance of proper reconstruction to ensure the safety of users. He mentioned that occasional closures of different sections of the bridge may occur for one or two weeks at a time to facilitate ongoing maintenance work. The reopening of the bridge aims to alleviate the hardship faced by road users during the repair process.
The governor also stated that the contractor responsible for the repairs will reconstruct ancillary roads along the corridor to prevent further misuse of the bridge. In a bid to prevent additional damage to the flyover, Sanwo-Olu issued a 7-day ultimatum, declaring that trading activities under the bridge will no longer be allowed.
The Apongbon Bridge was ravaged by fire on March 23, 2022, primarily caused by trading activities in the area. Consequently, the Lagos State Government temporarily closed the Eko Bridge and issued eviction notices to traders occupying shops under the burnt bridge. In April 2022, the government demolished the shops and other structures constructed beneath the damaged Apongbon Bridge in Lagos Island, following the expiration of the traders’ ultimatum to vacate the premises.
