Picture showing Firefighters working on Eko bridge during the fire outbreak at Apongbon market on Wednesday, March 24, 2022. Photo Credit: Jubril Gawat/Twitter.
Following the fire outbreak at the Apongbon axis of the Eko Bridge in the early hours of Wednesday, the Lagos State Government has shut the bridge.
Alternative routes have also been announced for diverting traffic and for the safety of motorists.
This was announced in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Transportation, Frederic Oladeinde.
He explained that an integrity assessment will be carried out to ascertain the level of damage caused by the fire incident for adequate rehabilitation of the bridge.
Oladeinde in the statement advised motorists heading towards Apongbon from Surulere and its environs to use Ijora/Apapa route or Leventis/UBA Roundabout to connect Marina and their desired destinations.
He also advised motorists to use Ebute Ero to link Inner Marina and Third Mainland Bridge to continue their journeys.
The Commissioner empathised with owners of shops razed down during the inferno, assuring that the State Government is fully committed to ensuring the safety of the commuting public within the metropolis.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) also announced that the bridge has been shut completely.
South-West Zonal Coordinator of NEMA, Ibrahim Farinloye, in an interview with Channels Television on Wednesday said the closure was necessary because the bridge has been compromised.
“The fire has affected the bridge, so it has been compromised safety-wise. So, the Eko bridge has been shut down completely,” Mr Farinloye said.
When asked if the bridge may collapse, Mr Farinloye said, “We don’t think it can collapse but it has given signs that it is compromised.”
Picture showing Firefighters working on Eko bridge during the fire outbreak at Apongbon market on Wednesday, March 24, 2022. Photo Credit: Jubril Gawat/Twitter.
There was panic on Wednesday morning following the fire outbreak at Apongbon market in Lagos. Many road users and motorists around the area were stranded as the outbreak led to a gridlock.
Many shops which were majorly constructed with planks were destroyed in the fire.
Vehicles parked under the bridge were also reportedly razed by the inferno which enveloped a large section of the bridge.
See more pictures from the scene of the fire outbreak…
Firefighters extinguish a fire at Apongbon market in Lagos, on March 23, 2022. (Photo by Benson Ibeabuchi / AFP)
Containers with goods still inside burn after a fire broke out at Apongbon market in Lagos, on March 23, 2022. Photo by Benson Ibeabuchi / AFP)
Containers with goods still inside burn after a fire broke out at Apongbon market in Lagos, Nigeria, on March 23, 2022. Photo by Benson Ibeabuchi / AFP)
A firefighter extinguishes a fire at Apongbon market in Lagos, Nigeria, on March 23, 2022. Photo by Benson Ibeabuchi / AFP)
Firefighters extinguish a fire at Apongbon market in Lagos, Nigeria, on March 23, 2022. - A morning fire on March 23, 2022 badly damaged a main bridge in Nigeria's commercial capital Lagos, razing dozens of shops and risking more traffic chaos in the city, the emergency. The blaze broke out during of an extended nationwide electricity shortage, which along with a spike in global fuel prices is already hurting households and businesses in Africa's largest economy. (Photo by Benson Ibeabuchi / AFP)more
A container with goods still inside burns at Apongbon market in Lagos, Nigeria, on March 23, 2022. - A morning fire on March 23, 2022 badly damaged a main bridge in Nigeria's commercial capital Lagos, razing dozens of shops and risking more traffic chaos in the city, the emergency. The blaze broke out during of an extended nationwide electricity shortage, which along with a spike in global fuel prices is already hurting households and businesses in Africa's largest economy. (Photo by Benson Ibeabuchi / AFP)more
A firefighter extinguishes a fire at Apongbon market in Lagos, Nigeria, on March 23, 2022. - A morning fire on March 23, 2022 badly damaged a main bridge in Nigeria's commercial capital Lagos, razing dozens of shops and risking more traffic chaos in the city, the emergency. The blaze broke out during of an extended nationwide electricity shortage, which along with a spike in global fuel prices is already hurting households and businesses in Africa's largest economy. (Photo by Benson Ibeabuchi / AFP)more
Shop owners try to salvage whatever they can after a fire broke out at Apongbon market in Lagos, Nigeria, on March 23, 2022. - A morning fire on March 23, 2022 badly damaged a main bridge in Nigeria's commercial capital Lagos, razing dozens of shops and risking more traffic chaos in the city, the emergency. The blaze broke out during of an extended nationwide electricity shortage, which along with a spike in global fuel prices is already hurting households and businesses in Africa's largest economy. (Photo by Benson Ibeabuchi / AFP)more
Firefighters extinguish a fire on a bridge at Apongbon market in Lagos, Nigeria, on March 23, 2022. - A morning fire on March 23, 2022 badly damaged a main bridge in Nigeria's commercial capital Lagos, razing dozens of shops and risking more traffic chaos in the city, the emergency. The blaze broke out during of an extended nationwide electricity shortage, which along with a spike in global fuel prices is already hurting households and businesses in Africa's largest economy. (Photo by Benson Ibeabuchi / AFP)more
Shop owners at the scene of the fire incident try to salvage whatever they can at Apongbon market in Lagos, Nigeria, on March 23, 2022. - A morning fire on March 23, 2022 badly damaged a main bridge in Nigeria's commercial capital Lagos, razing dozens of shops and risking more traffic chaos in the city, the emergency. The blaze broke out during of an extended nationwide electricity shortage, which along with a spike in global fuel prices is already hurting households and businesses in Africa's largest economy. (Photo by Benson Ibeabuchi / AFP)more
Firefighters extinguish a fire at Apongbon market in Lagos, Nigeria, on March 23, 2022. - A morning fire on March 23, 2022 badly damaged a main bridge in Nigeria's commercial capital Lagos, razing dozens of shops and risking more traffic chaos in the city, the emergency. The blaze broke out during of an extended nationwide electricity shortage, which along with a spike in global fuel prices is already hurting households and businesses in Africa's largest economy. (Photo by Benson Ibeabuchi / AFP)more
People walk by as containers with goods still inside burn after a fire broke out at Apongbon market in Lagos, Nigeria, on March 23, 2022. - A morning fire on March 23, 2022 badly damaged a main bridge in Nigeria's commercial capital Lagos, razing dozens of shops and risking more traffic chaos in the city, the emergency. The blaze broke out during of an extended nationwide electricity shortage, which along with a spike in global fuel prices is already hurting households and businesses in Africa's largest economy. (Photo by Benson Ibeabuchi / AFP)more
A Shop owners tries to extinguish the fire in his shop with a bucket of water at Apongbon market in Lagos, Nigeria, on March 23, 2022. - A morning fire on March 23, 2022 badly damaged a main bridge in Nigeria's commercial capital Lagos, razing dozens of shops and risking more traffic chaos in the city, the emergency. The blaze broke out during of an extended nationwide electricity shortage, which along with a spike in global fuel prices is already hurting households and businesses in Africa's largest economy. (Photo by Benson Ibeabuchi / AFP)more