‘Commission Airport/Mafoluku Link Bridge Now’

RESIDENTS of Mafoluku and environs heaved a sigh of relief when the Lagos State government awarded contract for a bridge linking the Murtala Mohammed International Airport road with Mafoluku.

The 2km road, which starts from NACHO Motor Park and ends at Ajibulu Street in Mafoluku, was completed March 2015 with features that include drainage and walkway. But the road has not been officially opened for public use.

Some residents of Mafoluku, who spoke with The Guardian, expressed displeasure at the development, saying the bridge should be commissioned, in order to halt toll at Airport Road.

One resident, Walter Duru, said: “We waited for the completion of this bridge for eight years. Now that it is finished, there is no reason to delay commissioning. We find if difficult to get to the Murtala Mohammed Airport Road. Opening the bridge, however, would help us move freely. It would also reduce traffic.”

A truck coordinator at NACHO Motor Park, Mr. Isaac, vented his frustration: “For government to meet the aspiration of people living in this area, it should open the bridge. Government should overcome whatever hurdles are involved and commission the bridge for public use.

“We spend money on toll at Airport Road everyday. The money keeps increasing without us seeing the use it is been put to. Before it was N100. Now, it is N300 for cars and buses, and N500 for trucks. Roads have been very bad but they keep collecting money without rehabilitating them. So, we want the Lagos State government to open the bridge to avoid wasting money on toll.”