Ijora Bridge in disrepair
by Oki Samson
Life under the Ijora Bridge Ijora under bridge roundabout
For more than a decade in Lagos State, the Ijora Bridge has been left in disrepair. The current situation does not seem to hold any hope for the bridge constructed by the colonial government before its exit in 1960.
The Ijora Bridge, which links many areas like Lagos Island, Apapa, Mile 2, Ebute-ero, and Ijora Olopa is mostly home to tankers and articulated trucks, which ply the axis daily. Many have even resorted to parking right on the bridge while they wait to load fuel from the tank farms and oil depots in the area, thus reducing it to just one-lane for other motorists.
The bridge is experiencing serious structural defects as the iron rods and concrete holding it are almost completely eroded and out for everybody to see.
New Telegraph observed that the Yshaped roundabout has a large garden with carpet grass but the greenness is long gone as the garden is really parched and faded.
It has become a dumpsite for all sorts of rubbish; people were seen urinating openly while passers-by go about their business as if nothing is happening. Prevailing condition under the bridge is a special case.
The places guarded with barbwire have been converted into parks; market women, and traders take their slice of the show displaying their wares on the walkways, so much that pedestrians find it hard to get room for their feet.
Bike riders, liquor sellers, cart pushers, tricycle riders, and bus drivers have a field day in spite of the swampy nature of the terrain.
The environment is bordered by abandoned structures of defunct companies that have departed the area but are now occupied by garages, parks and transport unions. An adjoining street, Fadani Street that houses a market is no different from what obtains under the bridge.
There were many demolished structures that traders have turned to makeshift shops, without any form of renovation.
A canal inside the market said to link Carter Bridge was filled with dirt because there was no concrete or wooden slab to cover it, thus allowing indiscriminate dumping of refuse into the canal.
Mr. Okere, chairman of the union refused to speak to New Telegraph, stating that they were not authorised to speak on the matter while further information can be obtained from headquarters at Abule-Egba axis of Lagos.
Umar Tasha, a bike rider said that no accident has ever occurred since he knew the bridge and that the environment is peaceful. Mr. Friday Otuko, a tricycle rider said: “this place is a big risk. Sometimes we experience heavy vibrations when heavy duty trucks speed on the bridge. The bridge is due for rehabilitation.”
A city sweeper known simple as Iya Moria, who was employed by the transport union to keep the garage clean, said that she swept the garage morning and evening all days of the week. She stated that as soon as she finished sweeping, she engaged a cart pusher to pack the rubbish and convey it to the nearest dumpsite.
“That is the reason it is even a bit clean and I pursue those who urinate here’, she said.
Another woman, Iya Serifat, said that the land belongs to Ojora family. She also stated that from what she heard, the bridge was built more than 50 years ago by a white man who came through Julius Berger to Lagos and that the man is also responsible for building the 7Up company.
She praised Oba Fatai Ojora of Ijora kingdom, who has contributed positively to the environment and has helped to reduce criminality.
She called on the government to intervene urgently with the problems posed by Customs officers seizing food items under the bridge, saying that was what was responsible for food scarcity in the nation.
Effort made by New Telegraph to reach the Sole Administrator was not successful as he was not ready to respond to questions while the information officer of the area was not available.
We were also unable to get the Honourable member representing Apapa Constituency 2 as at the time of filing the report.
It is obvious from the foregoing that the current state of Ijora bridge does not fit into the megacity plan of Lagos. The Federal Government, state government, and government agencies like the Ministries of Environment and road and infrastructure have been called upon to speed into action. Ijora bridge is crying out for the umpteenth time for comprehensive maintenance before the unexpected happens.
Written by Oki Samson and First Published in New Telegraph Newspaper
