FG in search of funds to repair burnt Airport link bridge

There seems no end in sight for repairs of burnt section of the Lagos Airport link bridge at Toyota, as the federal authorities are still in search of funds for the contract.

The flyover, which crosses the Apapa-Oshodi-Ojota-Oworonshoki Expressway was razed when a diesel laden tanker burst into flames last month.

Consequently, the bridge was shut to save lives, allow for investigations and carry out repairs on the damaged pillar and reinforcement. The Federal Ministry of Works and Housing report revealed that the bridge was badly damaged.

However, repairs on the bridge have been delayed, prompting fears among road users that the government may have abandoned the project. For weeks now, motorists are finding it difficult to access the airport from Apapa side of the expressway.

Explaining, the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos State, Olukayode Popoola, said the repairs had been delayed because of the procurement process.

He, however, said the Ministry of Works and Housing is treating the situation as an emergency and have to source for funds.

According to him, “we are waiting further directives from the ministry’s headquarters because the contractor had visited the site to estimate the extent of damage.”

He said: “The next activity is for the ministry to award the repairs of the damaged piers. It takes time to award such contract because of the procurement law. But it will be treated as emergency and they have to source for funds so that the contractor can fix it.

“I don’t know if it is HI-Tech or any other contractor. It is the procurement department that chooses the contractor. We have done all that is necessary at the site. We did investigation, tests on the bridge and found out that the piers are faulty and report was forwarded to the headquarters. Ours is to supervise at the site.”

It will be recalled that the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, visited the scene, where he gave traders and artisans doing business around Toyota two weeks to vacate the area.