Lagos State Government Raze down stores, structures beneath Apongbon Bridge.
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.
The Lagos State Taskforce arrived at the site with bulldozers as early as 9 a.m. on Friday and began demolishing the shops.
According to the story, security personnel in patrol vehicles gathered at the foot of the burned bridge to watch the demolition of businesses 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 on the scene were officials from the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), who were clearing the rubble from the damaged structures into their waiting vans.
What you need to know
Recall that the Apongbon Bridge was charred by fire on March 23 due to the activities of traders, prompting the state government to close Eko Bridge and issue eviction notices to traders having stores beneath the burned bridge.
After a fire that severely damaged the Apongbon bridge, the Lagos State Emergency Management Authority (LASEMA) forced owners and occupants of temporary and other establishments under the bridge 48 hours to remove or face penalty.
The notice had become necessary, according to LASEMA, in order to restore normalcy to the environment and prevent a repeat of the situation.
During a visit to the area in March to survey the damage caused by the fire on Eko Bridge, Ebute Ero, and the surrounds on March 23, 2022, Governor Sanwo-Olu advised traders inhabiting Apongbon underbridge that they must leave when the seven-day ultimatum issued to them ends.
