The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN, has ordered immediate closure of the Ijora-Olopa Bridge in Lagos following the discovery that some miscreants have tampered with the major reinforcement elements of the deck from underneath, which led to the failure of a section of the Bridge along Ijora Olopa Road, beside Water Corporation, Ijora.
In a press statement signed by his Special Adviser on Communications, Mr. Hakeem Bello, the affected points are Ijora-Olopa inward Ijora-Oloye–Apapa.
The statement adds: “Working with the Lagos State government and other traffic management authorities, the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos has also issued the following Traffic Advisory to ensure that motorists and other members of the commuting public are able to use alternative routes.
“From Eko Bridge motorists should take IGANMU/ SIFAX to Ijora-Oloye or Apapa
“From Iddo to Ijora-Oloye/Apapa; traffic will be diverted at the intersection underpass at Ijora Olopa on contraflow, and reconnected at the U-Turn to Ijora-Oloye or Apapa.
“It would be recalled that the Hon. Minister of Works and Housing has on several occasions asked illegal squatters occupying Lagos under-bridges to quit as fire incidents and other illegal activities underneath such bridges often result in extensive damage of the vital infrastructure constructed with the nation’s scarce resources”.
