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• Pedestrians, motorists express fear over imminent collapse
By Steve Agbota
Pedestrians and motorists have raised the alarm over imminent collapse of the Oke-Afa Mass Burial Bridge, if an urgent repair work is not carried out on the bridge.
The bridge, which connects several communities in Oshodi-Isolo and Egbe local government areas had caved in for over one month and is getting weak everyday, with no palliative work in sight.
The bridge, which connects Isolo, Cele, Jakande Gate, Isheri, Ijegun, Egbe, Ikotun, Bucknor, Idimu, Canoe-Ajao Estate and Oke Afa Estate among others, poses danger to pedestrians and motorists if urgent repair is not initiated immediately.
The development, coupled with dilapidated state of the roads around the axis have been causing serious traffic gridlock along the area.
Investigations by the Daily Sun revealed that the bridge was last rehabilitated about two decades ago, even as pedestrians and motorists have called on the government to expedite action to avert the impending danger.
Further investigation by the Daily Sun revealed that over 7,000 vehicles, including heavy duty trucks, commercial buses, private cars and tricycles (Keke Napep) ply the bridge everyday.
Residents said each street around Oke Afa and its environs has nothing less than three to five warehouses, where heavy duty trucks come on a regular basis to offload goods.
They said the trucks pass through the same bridge, which has been neglected by both the Lagos State and Federal Governments, even as the warehouse owners pay all manner of taxes.
According to the Chief Executive Officer of Teniola Fabrics, Mosunmola Eniola, the failing portion of the bridge is a disaster waiting to happen, particularly whenever trailers pass through it.
She called on the concerned authorities to take urgent action to ensure that the bridge is rehabilitated to prevent the looming dangers.
One of the landlords, Sunday Emmanuel, urged the both the state and federal governments to move swiftly to repair the bridge, while calling for a ban on the heavy duty trucks along the bridge, pending when the repair work is carried out.
“If this bridge falls, the casualty will be much and it will also obstruct the movement of pedestrians, vehicles and cargo. So, what the government should do is to expedite action in making sure the bridge is rehabilitated. But, it is like the main iron that is carrying the bridge is weaker, that is what they call attachment.”
He said the iron on the bridge has become weak because of how the bridge vibrates whenever trailers pass through it.
