FG Directs Julius Berger to Hasten Work on Ijora Bridge

The federal government has directed the contractor handling the repair of Ijora Bridge in Apapa area of Lagos State, Julius Berger, to hasten work on the bridge and reopen it to traffic as soon as possible.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo stated this while speaking on a Lagos-based television station, Wazobia TV.

The Vice President explained that the reopening of the bridge is vital to the free flow of traffic in Apapa and its environs.

The Chairman, Seaport Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria (STOAN), Vicky Haastrup had recently alerted the country that the closure of a section of the Ijora Bridge, outbound Apapa, was worsening the already chaotic traffic situation in the Lagos port community.

According to Osinbajo, “While we are fixing the roads, if you stand in front of the port, the bridge Julius Berger is building, they opened one half of the bridge and closed the other half, so it is not being used. That bridge must be completed and opened. “So one of the things we have done is telling Julius Berger about two weeks ago that they must complete and open up the bridge. Even when the construction of Wharf Road has been completed and the bridge has not been opened, we will still experience the same problem.”

He blamed congestion on the Lagos port access roads on bad roads and increased cargo volume.

He accused past administrations in the country of abandoning the roads to deteriorate to their present state.