Fasheun Bridge remains tolled 13 years on

Residents of Okota, Oke-Afa and adjoining communities in Lagos have raised concerns over the prolonged neglect of the canal linking Oke-Afa Bridge to Fasheun Bridge, saying its poor condition has worsened flooding and created an unsafe environment for residents.

The residents also expressed fears over the safety of Fasheun Bridge, citing rusting iron poles and other signs of deterioration, while appealing to the Lagos State Government to urgently intervene.

A visit by The Guardian showed that the canal between Oke-Afa Bridge and Fasheun Bridge was heavily overgrown with weeds, while sections had been filled with refuse allegedly dumped by illegal waste cart pushers. Makeshift structures have also sprung up around the canal, further restricting access to the waterway.

The bridge, built in 2013 by the late founder of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Dr Frederick Fasehun, over the Okota Canal, was constructed to ease traffic on the Ikotun-Isolo axis and provide a link between Jakande Estate and Oke-Afa.

Measuring about 135 metres in length and 4.5 metres in width, the bridge has remained tolled since it was commissioned 13 years ago.

One end of the bridge lands at the end of Lateef Aregbe Street in Okota, while the other connects to Bucknor Street around Isheri-Oshun/Jakande.

The link bridge was intended to ease traffic congestion along the Ikotun-Ejigbo-Isheri-Oshun-Jakande-Alimosho-Isolo-Okota-Festac-Mile 2 axis by providing a direct route from Jakande, Isheri and Bucknor through Okota to Mile 2, Apapa, Badagry, Lagos Island, Isolo and Surulere.

However, residents said the continued tolling of the bridge, coupled with the worsening condition of the canal, had raised concerns about access, safety and flooding.

Pedestrians currently pay N50, while tricycle and motorcycle riders pay N100 each. Car owners are charged N200 to use the bridge.

Speaking with The Guardian, Chairman of Olive Estate Community Development Area (CDA), Oke-Afa, Clement Olajolo, said the canal had become heavily blocked with refuse, posing a serious flooding threat to surrounding communities.

“The waterways from Oke-Afa Bridge to Fasheun Bridge are already filled to the brim with waste dumped by waste cart pushers. Worse still, some people are creating extensions of makeshift apartments around the area, causing further obstruction,” he said.

Olajolo recalled that the canal was last cleared during the first tenure of former Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola, adding that other waterways in the state had continued to receive periodic maintenance.

“Why has Oke-Afa been abandoned for so long? There is an imminent risk of the bridge collapsing if care is not taken to rescue it.

“The canal has been filled to the brim with waste, blocking the passage of water coming from different parts of Ejigbo, Egbe-Idimu, Ikotun and Oshodi-Isolo Local Government Area.

“Many people have already left their homes because of flooding. We call on the state and Federal governments to come to our aid,” he said.

Another resident, Aare Saheed, said community members had previously attempted to clear the drainage but were unable to sustain the effort because of the scale of the blockage.

“We made efforts to clear the drainage, but the government later came in and indicated its readiness to help us because our effort was minimal. We have not seen the government after that promise,” he said.

Saheed added that residents often encountered snakes and other reptiles when attempting to clear the drainage, making the area increasingly unsafe.

“The canal has become a habitation for snakes and other reptiles. The government also came to inspect the broken poles, but we are still waiting for intervention,” he said.

When contacted, Director of Public Affairs, Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Mukaila Sanusi, said the canal was included in the authority’s plans for the year.

“It is one of the projects earmarked for this year, and we will clear it before the end of the year,” he said.