Gridlock as fire razes shops under Apongbon bridge in Lagos

• Apongbon fire: NEMA announces alternative routes for Lagos motorists

Fire on Wednesday gutted shops under the Apongbon section of the Eko Bridge in Lagos State.

The fire incident caused gridlock and crippled commercial activities around the Lagos Island area of the state.

Though the cause of the fire incident could not be ascertained at the time of filing this report, it was learnt that goods worth millions of naira were destroyed by the inferno.

“Traffic from Eko bridge has been re-routed to Ebute-Ero to link inner marina. Men of fire service and other security agencies are still on the ground. Therefore, CMS bridge and Eko bridge inward/outward Apongbon is close to traffic at the moment,” Lagos State Traffic Management Agency tweeted.

Director of Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Adeseye Margaret, described the nature of the fire as “disastrous”.

Margaret said, “The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service is currently battling go an inferno at Eko bridge Apongbon, Lagos island.

“The fire which was reported at 03:14 Wednesday wee hours to under the Eko bridge at Apongbon, where various stocks in trade are plied was met well alight by the first set of the crew of the agency on arrival.

“The intensity of the fire has badly affected the Eko bridge truncating movement along that corridor..

“The nature of the fire is disastrous as all Emergency responders are on top of the situation.

“There has been no reported case of injury or death while Fire fighting operations are still ongoing. Update to follow.”

Apongbon fire: NEMA announces alternative routes for Lagos motorists

The National Emergency Management Agency has announced alternative routes for Lagos Island-bound commuters and motorists following the fire incident in the Apongbon area of the state on Wednesday.

NEMA South-West Zonal Coordinator, Mr Ibrahim Farinloye, made the announcement on Wednesday in Lagos.

The PUNCH had reported that fire gutted shops under the Apogbon section of the Eko Bridge on Wednesday.

“The alternative routes are: movements from Ikorodu Road, take a detour via Jibowu to connect Yaba through to Oyingbo or Adekunle, from there to Adeniji and Adeniji to Ebutte Ero or continue movements toward CSM or inner Marina.

“Second route for those going to Ijora, Costain or inner part of Surulere, can continue through the crawling movement to connect Eko bridge, take a detour to Ijora and continue the journey to Apapa or toward Leventis, UBA roundabout to connect Marina.

“The Federal Ministry of Works has been called upon to close the bridge and carry out integrity tests to determine the safety of the bridge for further usage,’’ Farinloye said.

PUNCH