Expert Faults Amaechi’s Plan to Demolish Bridges

A Lagos-based transportation infrastructure expert, Segun Olakunle has faulted the planned demolition of some bridges in Lagos to make way for the construction of Lagos - Ibadan rail line. Olakunle, who stated this while reacting to the planned demolition of the bridges, said the approach is not only outdated but an indication that the conception, planning, design and execution of the project lack modern approach. He said the negative economic impact of the demolition will far outweigh whatever benefits and political mileage the government wanted to score by hurriedly completing the project.

The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, had stated in Lagos recently that Jibowu and Costain bridges both in mainland part of Lagos would be demolished for the government to achieve December 2018 project completion target of the rail line.

He said the government has not factored the dislocation of economic activities, chaotic traffic situation that might lockdown entire Lagos metropolis and the huge cost of rebuilding the bridges. According to him, “Demolition of the bridges will result into unimaginable dislocation of economic activities that will not only cripple Lagos, but the whole country, as Lagos is the economic hub of the nation. Not only that, it will result in a very nasty traffic quagmire that will lockdown the entire metropolitan Lagos.

“Moreover, Amaechi has not told us where he will get money to rebuild the bridges in this economic crisis, especially, when virtually all the federal roads across the nation are death traps. Amaechi’s planned demolition is just a wasteful ego trip that is targeted at achieving inordinate political gain at the detriment of economic well being of the country.”

Olakunle advised the minister to adopt a modern approach where a tunnel is used to bypass obstacles on the right of way of rail projects or the rail line to be elevated above or parallel to the bridges instead of demolishing them.