Eko bridge closure: Traders, commuters lament hike in transport fare

LASTMA pledges free flow of traffic around Apongbon 
Lagos residents and traders have lamented the closure of Eko (Apongbon) bridge, saying it is impeding free flow of traffic and subjecting them to untold hardship due to their inability to access places of work and shops freely.

The bridge was partially closed by the Federal Government following a fire incident that engulfed a section of the Bridge in the early hours of Friday last week.

Acting Federal Controller of Works in Lagos State, Forosola Oloyede, had in a statement, said the fire from under the bridge had damaged the Ijora Olopa section, around the area used as a frozen food market.

However, traders and residents lamented that the closure has left them to trek long distances with increase in transport fares.

A commercial bus driver, identified simply as Kofo, who lamented his ordeal from Ajah to CSM, expressed sadness that they spent several hours navigating the road, while awaiting repairs.

He said: The traffic caused by the closure is affecting out trips,  a lot of passengers are stranded at various bus stops. Our business is slow and poor.

“We are paying heavily  to area boys /touts and LASMA, the police are extorting money from us, and in the end we are left with little or nothing to take to our families.”

When The Guardian visited Apongbon bridge, there was no worker on site, except a security man, as proper work is yet to commence.

Both sides of the bridge were cordoned, while a pedestrian path was left for commuters to pass on foot.

Apart from constructions and safety signs on the site, no work is going on, while traders display their wares on make shifts.

Most passengers trek from CSM on top the bridge to  Agboghon and  Costain bus stop without vehicles, cars and buses  to take them  home or to their destination

Stranded passengers at CMS,  Emmanuel Onche said bus drivers have hiked the fare as he paid N1,000 from CMS to Ojuelagba which used to be N300 before the closure.

Also,  a bus ride from Costain to CSM is now between N300 and N500, while it goes between N500 and N2,000 from CMS to Mile 1,

A wholesale clothes dealer, Clement Onoja  urged the Federal Government and the contractor to expedite action on the bridge to ensure free movement during yuletide sales.

Meanwhile, Ms Oloyede appealed for patience by motorists and advised them to use alternative routes and cooperate with traffic management agencies.

She added that traffic control officers would be on-ground to direct and help with the flow of traffic to reduce hardship to road users.

ALSO, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), has pledged quality management of traffic around Apongbon axis of Lagos Island.

The General Manager (LASTMA),  Bolaji Oreagba, who led an Enforcement Team of the agency on a working visit to Eko Bridge by Apongbon, said: “Our working visitations to the entire Apongbon axis was to ensure that the partial closure of Eko Bridge does not impede the free flow of traffic in any form and to find ways of working together with relevant stakeholders in monitoring illegal activities of street traders around the Apongbon area and the entire Lagos Island.

“ I advised commercial bus operators, including private car owners operating around Apongbon area to desist from parking indiscriminately by roadside, kerbs, walkways thereby obstructing the free movement of motorists and other road users.

“We promised to effectively manage and control the traffic situation around Apongbon, especially those blackspots around the entire Lagos Island and other areas across the state that are prone to traffic gridlocks.”