Abiola Peters
The Minister of Works, Mr David Umahi has called on the Lagos State Government and other relevant authorities to as a matter of urgency shutdown the waterways between Eko and Carter Bridges.
This is due to a capsized dredger that poses danger to boats and ships.
Mr Umahi made the call after observing the wreckage during an inspection tour of ongoing repairs of the under decks and substructures of Third Mainland Bridge, Eko Bridge, Carter Bridge, Iddo Bridge and Independence Bridge.
The Minister explained that the capsized dredger had caused immense damage to one of the piles of Eko Bridge and it will require an emergency repair.
Mr Umahi raised an alarm over dredging around the Third Mainland Bridge in violation of the directive of the Federal Executive Council four months ago, which banned dredging at ten-kilometre radius of all bridges across the country.
The Minister of Works said efforts would be made to install CCTV cameras on all bridges nationwide to check dredging and other criminal activities.
He also frowned at trading and use of the Carter Bridge as parking space for commercial vehicles, warning that bridges are meant for mobility and not static vehicles so as not add unnecessary weight on the bridge.
Mr Umahi expressed satisfaction with the progress of work at the under deck of the bridges which he put at fifty percent on Third Mainland Bridge and seventy percent on Carter Bridge.
The Minister of Works later visited Channel 15 of Section One of the Lagos Calabar Coastal Highway, where the ocean tide poses a threat to the project and which necessitates the construction of a Shoreline Protection and embarkment for which the project cost will have to be reviewed upward.