Lagos Governor, Sanwo Olu with his Special Adviser on Central Business Districts, Mr. Gbenga Oyerinde on tour of the Eko Bridge, Wednesday
Apongbon market fire: Lagos Govt gives squatters 48hrs notice to vacate
Lagos Government has issued a 48 hours notice to squatters under the Eko Bridge to vacate the area.
The order follows Wednesday morning fire incident that engulfed some makeshift shops and containers at the Apongbon under bridge market located by the Eko Bridge at Oke Arin, Lagos Island, thereby affecting some parts of the structure.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Central Business Districts, Mr. Gbenga Oyerinde, issued the directive to illegal occupiers during his official visit to the scene after the fire had been extinguished and the removal of debris had commenced.
Oyerinde decried the illegal activities of squatters, traders who store items beneath the bridge and engage in other business transactions, warning that anyone caught flouting the directive to stay clear of underneath the bridge will be arrested and prosecuted.
“The issue of fire outbreak under the Eko Bridge at Oke Arin may become endemic if adequate steps are not taken to forestall future occurrence due to negligence and non-adherence to safety protocols by traders, leaders of the market associations and CDAs after several engagements on the need to take issues of safety seriously,” Oyerinde said.
Commending the men of the Lagos State Fire Service for the quick response and putting out the fire fastidiously, the Special Adviser averred that the cause of the fire outbreak has not been fully ascertained, but suggested that it may be due to the storage of explosive and combustive materials in some of the containers stored under the bridge.
Oyerinde visited the scene of the incident alongside the Permanent Secretary, LASEMA, Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu and other State Officials.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has since directed alternative routes for Lagos Island-bound commuters and motorists following the fire incident in the Apongbon area of the state, Wednesday morning.
Some vehicles parked under the Eko Bridge were also gutted by the fire which has enveloped a large section of the bridge.
Officials of the Federal and Lagos State Fire Service are currently at the market trying to put out the fire.
South West coordination of NEMA, Ibrahim Farinloye, said: “The alternative routes are; movements from Ikorodu Road, take a detour via Jibowu to connect Yaba through to Oyingbo or Adekunle, from there to Adeniji and Adeniji to Ebutte Ero or continue movements toward CSM or inner Marina.
“Second route for those going to Ijora, Costain or inner part of Surulere, can continue through the crawling movement to connect Eko bridge, take a detour to Ijora and continue the journey to Apapa or toward Leventis, UBA roundabout to connect Marina,” NEMA said.
Continuing, Farinloye added: ”The Eko bridge has been physically damaged. Federal Ministry of Works has been called upon to close the bridge and carry out integrity tests to determine the safety of the bridge for further usage.”
