Residents of the Amje/Estaport community, in Alagbado area of Lagos State, are again calling on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to urgently address the collapse of a bridge in the area.
The residents are calling for a swift and effective response to avert potential mishaps arising from the community bridge’s collapse.
Oredola Adeola, the Community Develoment Area Secretary in a statement shared with P.M. News expressed frustration and concern over the severe neglect of critical infrastructure in the community.
He said, “Almost two months after the destruction of the bridge on Olakunle Ojo Street in Agbado/Oke-Odo LCDA, the structure remains a hazardous and collapsed wreck, with no visible repair efforts initiated by the Lagos State Government.
“Despite the placement of barricades by state authorities, no action has been taken by the Lagos State Government to repair the bridge.
“Recall that the bridge was severely damaged during the heavy downpour on May 7, 2024. The collapse effectively split the community in two, causing escalating harm and disruption to residents.
Oredola emphasised that the community’s pleas to Governor Babajide Sanwo-olu, through his Special Adviser, Media & Publicity, Gboyega Akosile, have been met with silence.
He said, “Since May, the situation has only worsened, with properties around the collapsed bridge deteriorating.”
“The damage inflicted by the torrential rains has left the bridge’s pillars damaged, its foundation weakened, and the surrounding drainage supports eroded.
“The bridge, a crucial link for approximately 20 communities to the Lagos-Abeokuta express Road, has left local livelihoods and commercial activities in disarray.
“Residents have been forced to leave the area, deterring potential new tenants and impoverishing landlords who rely on rental income.
“Businesses have ground to a halt, leaving the once bustling Amje Estaport eerily deserted”.
He explained that the Amje Estaport CDA, which connects over 20 communities to the Lagos-Abeokuta highway, has been paralyzed by this infrastructural failure.
“The ineffective barricade put at the spot of damage by the Lagos State Public Works department in May, does little to stop the growing damage, and residents are facing significant disruption to their daily lives. Vehicles are unable to access the community, forcing owners to risk parking in theft-prone areas, leading to a surge in car battery thefts and escalating security risks.
Oredola said, “Two months of abandonment is unacceptable,”
Pastor Samson Akinde, the CDA Chairman corroborating the statement of the Secretary said, “Residents are urgently appealing to Governor Sanwo-Olu for immediate action to address the flood-prone areas in the Agbado/Oke-Odo LCDA and to repair the collapsed bridge. The community’s desperate plea is a cry for help, seeking swift intervention to rescue them from this dire situation.
“The state government must act now before an emergency occurs. How long should we continue to wait for rescue? Is the state government waiting for a disaster before something is done?”
Akinde therefore called on the Lagos State Government to fulfill its promises and take immediate steps to restore the bridge and prevent further deterioration of their community.
Mrs. Adejoke Abosede, a widow who relies on the movement of people within the community for her livelihood, has voiced her frustration over the state’s abandonment. Mrs. Abosede, who runs a small roadside business, depends heavily on the daily flow of residents and commuters for her income. The collapse of the bridge has drastically reduced foot traffic in the area, severely impacting her earnings.
In an emotional comment, Abosede lamented,: “The poverty in the country is already unbearable, and now, with the poor patronage due to the collapsed bridge, my situation has worsened. I used to make enough to feed my children and send them to school, but now, I barely make enough to survive.”
She added that the government’s negligence has left her and many others in a state of despair, struggling to make ends meet in an already challenging economic environment.
