Workers and port users alike have expressed fear over the planned closure of the major link bridge connecting Apapa to Ijora, Surulere and beyond, stating that alternative routes ought to have been completed before such move is considered.
Speaking to Nigerian Tribune exclusively, Alhaji Shuaibu Hassan, a port worker who works with one of the regulatory agencies located on Burma Road in Apapa wondered how port workers will get to work if the major link bridge leading to Wharf Road is closed.
According to Alhaji Shuaibu, “the traffic congestion will only get worse since alternative roads like the Coconut, First and Second Gate axis of the Apapa-Oshodi express road remain a no-go area for many motorists.
“I know many port workers who stopped accessing the ports through the Apapa-Oshodi expressway all because of the bad state of that road. Most of them started coming in through the Ojuelegba end and into the port through the same bridge government is now contemplating on closing.
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“Even when some section of that bridge was rehabilitated last year, only one lane of the bridge was closed at a time to allow movement to and fro into Apapa. With the planned closure of the bridge, I smell trouble since the other entry point into Apapa, the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, is bad. Why not fix one before closing the other? It’s so unfair on the part of the government.”
“Even when some section of that bridge was rehabilitated last year, only one lane of the bridge was closed at a time to allow movement to and fro into Apapa. With the planned closure of the bridge, I smell trouble since the other entry point into Apapa, the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, is bad. Why not fix one before closing the other? It’s so unfair on the part of the government.”
Also speaking to Nigerian Tribune, Mr Chidi Alloysius, a clearing agent, wondered how cargoes will be moved out of the ports if the bridge is closed down. In his words, “We hardly move freight containers out of the ports through the Apapa-Oshodi expressway again due to the bad state of that road. Most times, containers keep falling off the back of trucks due to the bad road portions located at First Gate and Coconut bus stops of that road. So, most often, we come through Wharf Road into the Apapa bridge, not because we prefer the route, but because we have no other choice.
“Now the government wants to close the bridge for repair works. Can’t government close a section and leave another section open for traffic? We won’t mind the traffic that it will generate since we are already used to it. Closing both sections of the bridge will leave us with no other choice than to navigate the bad Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, thereby exposing our container contents to dangers of falling off and getting damaged. I think the government needs to apply wisdom to this planned closure of the Apapa Bridge.”
The Federal Controller of Works, Lagos, Mr Adedamola Kuti, had disclosed that the Apapa Bridge would be closed for permanent repairs as soon as stakeholders come up with alternative routes for commuters. The bridge is the major link with the port through Wharf Road with Ijora.
Addressing journalists in Lagos recently, Kuti said already, Julius Berger Plc, the contractor handling the project, is ready to move to the site.
On the current state of the bridge, Kuti explained that it would remain in use for now because of an earlier emergency repair work done by Julius Berger to stabilise it. The controller stressed that Messrs Buildwell Nigeria Ltd. had completed permanent repairs on an extension of the bridge which was damaged by fire.
