Would you like to receive notifications on latest updates of the following headlines?

FG Launches Urgent Evacuation, Demolition of Illegal Structures Under Iddo Bridge

POSTED ON May 26, 2025 •   BREAKING NEWS      BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara
Iddo Bridge

LAGOS, Nigeria - The federal government has commenced the evacuation and demolition of illegal structures located beneath the Iddo Bridge in Lagos due to significant safety issues and the risk of imminent collapse. 

Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, issued the directive while inspecting the bridge with structural engineers and officials from Julius Berger Nigeria Plc. on Sunday.

Umahi expressed his worries about the bridge's condition, which he stated has been severely affected by unlawful human activities.

“We are accompanied by bridge experts to assess the Iddo Bridge, which was damaged due to illegal occupation and activities underneath it,” he said.

“Individuals have turned the underpass into shops, warehouses, and even residential areas. These actions have led to considerable damage, to the point where Julius Berger has recommended that the bridge should be entirely demolished and rebuilt.”

He mentioned that similar activities had also impacted the Cowry Bridge and the Independence Bridge.

The minister noted that efforts by the federal government to engage with the illegal occupants had faced resistance, as some assert that the issue is currently before the courts.

“They have declined to leave the premises, sending us letters claiming the matter is in court. It seems their commercial interests are more important to them than the safety of Lagosians, but we cannot permit that,” Umahi remarked.

He instructed the federal controller of works in Lagos State, Olukorede Kesha, to ensure the demolition of all illegal structures beneath the bridge is completed before the end of business on Monday.

“This is about preserving lives. We must take action to avert the bridge's collapse. Beams have already been damaged by vehicles, and some have been burnt. The bridge's structural integrity is compromised,” he stated.

 

He also suggested that police should be deployed to the site to secure any valuable items that may be discovered during the demolition.

“If we find even a pin, it should be documented and returned, but what I have observed thus far are mostly iron doors and partitions. There are no valuable goods inside,” Umahi mentioned.

The minister stressed that the decision to demolish and thoroughly inspect the bridge is final.

“We are not here to penalize anyone; we aim to save lives. Every illegal structure beneath this bridge must be removed by the end of Monday,” he affirmed. The contract for the rehabilitation of the Iddo Bridge was awarded to Julius Berger Plc. in 2024.

In April, Umahi indicated that one of the primary issues with the bridge was insufficient headroom clearance.

He pointed out that a portion of the bridge has a headroom of only about 3.0 meters, well below the necessary minimum of 5.6 meters.

According to the minister, this situation has led to frequent truck collisions with the bridge's underside, causing structural damage.

Umahi also expressed concerns regarding shops near the bridge selling chemicals, indicating that such practices present serious safety hazards.

He recalled an instance when a chemical caught fire near the bridge, resulting in extensive damage to the structure.

He underscored that the bridge's structural elements have been critically compromised and require urgent intervention.

READ ALSO
South-West Demands Five New States and Constitutional Recognition for Traditional Rulers in Ongoing Constitutional Review
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 4, 2025 0

The demand for the establishment of five new states, the recognition of traditional rulers in the co...

READ ALSO
Federal High Court Orders Reinstatement of  Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, Calls Suspension "Excessive"
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 4, 2025 0

A Federal High Court in Abuja ruled on Friday that the Nigerian Senate exceeded its authority by sus...

READ ALSO
Calls for Autopsy: Ondo Govt. Faces Pressure to Exhume Late Governor Akeredolu's Body
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 30, 2025 0

The Ondo State Government may need to exhume the body of the late governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, f...

READ ALSO
Tinubu to Discuss Sustainable Governance at BRICS Summit in Rio
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 29, 2025 0

President Bola Tinubu arrived in Vieux Fort, Saint Lucia, on Saturday for the first leg of his two-p...

READ ALSO
Reps Launches Committee to Review CNG Policy Implementation
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 27, 2025 0

The House of Representatives has formed an ad-hoc committee tasked with examining the Federal Govern...

READ ALSO
Nigeria Takes Bold Step towards Energy Independence with Naira-Based Crude Sales Initiative
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 25, 2025 0

The Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority, alongside the Federal Government’s One-Stop-Sho...

READ ALSO
IPMAN Links Rising Petrol Prices to Crude Oil Costs and Market Dynamics
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 24, 2025 0

ABUJA, Nigeria (NAN) - The Public Relations Officer of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Associati...

READ ALSO
Tinubu Launches National Mechanised Farming Programme to Tackle Food Insecurity
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 23, 2025 0

In a bid to combat food insecurity and encourage youth participation in farming, President Bola Tinu...

OUR CHANNELS:

Two Men Charged in CBEX Investment Scheme Remain in Custody
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 8, 2025 0

A Federal High Court in Abuja has placed two businessmen, Aweruso Otorudo and Chukwuebuka Ehirim, in...


LASG Takes Action, Dismantled  Illegal Checkpoints Along Badagry Expressway
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 8, 2025 0

LAGOS, Nigeria - The Lagos State government has dismantled illegal checkpoints along the Lagos&ndash...


Natasha's Return Plans on Hold as Senate Awaits Court Judgment Copy
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 8, 2025 0

The suspended Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has declared her intention...


Nigerian States Accumulate N417.7 Billion in Domestic Debt Amid Rising FAAC Revenue
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 8, 2025 0

At least 10 Nigerian states have cumulatively increased their domestic debt by N417.7 billion from t...


Governor Otti Facilitates Release of Inmates After 26 Years
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 8, 2025 0

Governor Alex Otti of Abia State on Saturday welcomed three Nigerians who were released after spendi...


Tinubu Pledges to Eliminate Bureaucratic Hurdles in Agriculture During Bilateral Talks with Brazil
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 8, 2025 0

President Bola Tinubu expressed his commitment on Saturday to his Brazilian counterpart, Luiz Inacio...


Sowore Condemns Tenure Extensions of Senior Security Officials for Violating 35-Year Service Limit
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 8, 2025 0

Human rights advocate and ex-presidential aspirant, Omoyele Sowore, has criticized the ongoing tenur...


Eight Dead, Eight Injured as Commercial Bus Crashes into Truck
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 8, 2025 0

Just 48 hours after a road accident in Ogun State resulted in the deaths of 10 individuals, another...


Nigerian Investors Launch $5 Billion Cooperative Trust Fund to Empower MSMEs
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 8, 2025 0

A coalition of Nigerian investors has introduced a Cooperative Trust Fund valued at $5 billion, aime...


Nnamdi Kanu's Release Not a Condition for South-East Support of Tinubu- Umahi
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 8, 2025 0

In light of calls for the release of the detained Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the banned Indigenous Peopl...


More Articles

Load more...

Menu