Lagos demolishes shops, other structures under Apongbon Bridge after Sanwo-Olu’s ultimatum

The Lagos State Government razed shops and other structures built beneath the burned-out Apongbon Bridge in Lagos Island on Friday.

This comes just five days after Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu gave a three-day ultimatum to traders to quit the area or risk having their items demolished.

According to NAN, the Lagos State Taskforce arrived at the site with bulldozers as early as 9 a.m. on Friday and began demolishing the shops.

The report says that security officials were assembled at the foot of the burnt bridge in their patrol vehicles, monitoring the demolition of the shops and other structures, with other shop owners and traders in the shops across the road from the bridge not allowed to open for business.

Also, the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) personnel were on ground to clear the rubble from the demolished structures into their waiting vans.

What you should know

• Recall that earlier on March 23, the Apongbon Bridge was razed by fire on March 23 due to the activities of the traders, leading the state government to temporarily shut Eko Bridge and issue an eviction notice to traders with shops under the burnt bridge.
• The Lagos State Emergency Management Authority (LASEMA) gave owners and occupants of makeshift and other shops under the Apongbon bridge 48 hours to vacate the location or risk sanctions, after a fire incident which badly affected the bridge.
• LASEMA had explained that the notice had become necessary to restore normalcy to the environment as well as prevent a similar incident from occurring in future.
• Also, Governor Sanwo-Olu had in March warned traders occupying Apongbon underbridge that they must leave after the seven-day ultimatum issued to them expires, during a visit to the area to inspect the damage caused by the fire on Eko Bridge, Ebute Ero and the environs on March 23, 2022.