Eko Bridge damage: Umahi urges immediate closure of waterway between Eko, Carter Bridges
"I am shocked that dredging is still taking place (in Lagos), four months after FEC banned dredging along 10km radius from all bridges in Nigeria"
The Minister of Works, Sen. Dave Umahi, has called for immediate closure of the waterway between Eko Bridge and Carter Bridge following a damage on Eko Bridge due to dredging activities.
Speaking during an inspection tour of some bridges in Lagos State, Umahi urged Lagos State Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to enforce the closure to prevent further accidents.
”The dredger hit pier cap and the pier tumbled and they sunk,” the minister said, explaining that the driver of the dredger or its owner had been arrested.
Stating that the federal government would take a decisive action on that because the damage was much, Umahi said: “I also saw a very serious dredging along Third Mainland Bridge, notwithstanding that the Federal Executive Council, about four months ago, banned dredging along 10km radius from all bridges in Nigeria. I am shocked that dredging is still taking place.”
The minister said dredging near bridges undermines their structural integrity, appealing to members of the public to avoid parking and loading on bridges in order to safeguard lives and Nigeria’s road infrastructure.
