Gridlock as Lagos bridge collapses

There was confusion early Thursday morning at 5-Star bus stop along the Apapa expressway as a pedestrian bridge collapsed.

The bridge was said to have collapsed after a heavy touch crashed into, it earlier in the day, creating serious cracks.

The collapsed bridge created serious traffic along the ever-busy road as the debris blocked substantial parts of the road.

The Permanent Secretary in charge of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) confirmed the collapse of the bridge.

The  LASEMA boss also stated that no life was lost and neither was any casualty in the early Thursday incident.

The LASEMA boss, in a statement on Thursday, said; “The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, in response to distress calls via the 767 / 112 Toll-Free lines, activated its Emergency Response Team from the Cappa Base at 0641 hrs.

Upon arrival of the Eagle Response Team at the scene by 0650hrs, LRT discovered a partly collapsed pedestrian bridge, with its fallen portions shutting down half of the expressway.”

According to LASEMA, “Preliminary investigations conducted by the LASEMA Response Team revealed that an unknown articulated truck conveying heavy duty equipment collided with the pedestrian bridge earlier in the day which resulted in the cracks and collapsed portions from the bridge.”

LASEMA also stresses that “fortunately, no loss of life and no injuries were reported due to the incident”.

LASEMA heavy-duty equipment-giant forklift has been activated to evacuate the impediment to avert all probable secondary incidents.

The entire bridge had been cordoned off by the Agency’s Response Team.

“Decommissioning Efforts of the remaining concrete members of the pedestrian bridge have been kick-started to ensure public safety.”

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