Oke Afa Bridge caves in, risks imminent collapse

Jakande Gate road gone bad, as traffic situation worsens

By Steve Agbota

Residents, pedestrians, and motorists have once again cried out that the popular Oke-Afa Mass Burial Bridge risks imminent collapse if the Federal Government and Lagos State Government fail to carry out urgent work on the weak structure. They have called for the urgent rehabilitation of the bridge and the replacement of the railings removed by vandals.

This comes as the Jakande Gate road has completely collapsed, causing heavy traffic daily, while two to three containers fall onto this “death trap” road every week.

However, Daily Sun learnt that the bridge, which connects several communities in the Oshodi-Isolo and Egbe local government areas, caved in more than a month ago after the first heavy rain of the year. It is reportedly getting weaker every day, 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 a significant danger to pedestrians and motorists if urgent repairs are not initiated immediately. The development, coupled with the dilapidated state of the roads around the axis, has been causing serious traffic gridlock in the area.

Investigations by Daily Sun revealed that the bridge was last rehabilitated about two decades ago, although it was patched in 2023 when the structure previously caved in. Pedestrians and motorists who spoke with Daily Sun on the bridge on Thursday evening called on the government to expedite action to avert impending danger.

Meanwhile, an investigation by Daily Sun revealed that over 10,000 vehicles, including heavy-duty trucks, commercial buses, private cars, and tricycles (Keke Napep), ply the bridge every day. Residents said each street around Oke Afa and its environs has no fewer than three to five warehouses, where heavy-duty trucks regularly arrive to offload goods from the Lagos ports.

They noted that these trucks pass through the same bridge, which has been neglected by both the Lagos State and Federal Governments, even as the warehouse owners pay various taxes.

Speaking with Daily Sun, a trader at Ladipo market, Emeka Nicol, said that it is unfortunate that a bridge that connects several routes and contributes to the livelihood of the people and the economy of this nation and Lagos State is being neglected.

“Why I said the bridge contributes to the economy is very simple. This small bridge you are looking at is one of the most important bridges in Nigeria. You see a lot of people plying this bridge every day; they are taxpayers. Where are the taxes going? The government’s purse, as we all know,” he said.

“A lot of trucks are plying this bridge, and the owners of these containers would have paid duty and other charges before they release their goods at the port. The government is collecting this money without spending it to fix the infrastructure, contributing to the revenue they are making. They fix part of the roads and neglect the bridge. What will it take them to fix the bridge that is not up to two kilometres? Look at Jakande Gate road down to NNPC road; they allowed these roads to become a death trap. Every day, up to three containers fall here and there. We thank God there is no casualty yet, but people might not be so lucky if this falling of containers continues,” he added.

The Managing Director of Benharry Hotels, Akin Akinyele, said that the condition of the Oke-Afa Bridge has become a serious safety concern for residents and daily road users.

“The erosion beneath the bridge has exposed reinforcement bars, and more worrying is that these iron rods are now visible on the road surface itself. This is not just a structural issue, it is an immediate hazard to vehicles and pedestrians. What we are seeing are clear warning signs of weakening infrastructure. If urgent action is not taken to assess and reinforce the bridge, there is a real risk of accidents or structural failure. We are calling on the appropriate local and state authorities to intervene quickly, carry out necessary repairs, and ensure the safety of everyone who relies on this route daily,” he said.

Anike Alao stated that 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 looming dangers.

She noted that the iron on the bridge has become weak because of how the bridge vibrates whenever trailers pass through it.