Mrs Rukayat Balogun, the Iyaloja of Aromoleti Market on Lagos Island area of Lagos State has implored the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu-led Lagos State Government to shelve its planned eviction of traders under the Eko bridge.
According to Mrs Balogun, no fewer than 30,000 traders under the Eko bridge will be affected if the state government enforces its eviction notice after last week’s fire incident.
While appealing to Sanwo-Olu who was at the market to inspect the burnt section of the bridge on Monday, Balogun noted that the market had been in existence for over 45 years.
The Iyaloja who spoke on behalf of the traders noted that the market caters to the needs of many customers not only in Nigeria but in other West African countries, like Togo, Benin, Ghana, and Mali.
According to her, many of the traders are widows, aged, and helpless without any other source of income.
“Nothing less than 30,000 traders will be affected if the State Government goes ahead with the eviction notice given to traders and squatters under the bridge,” she said.
But while addressing the market women, Sanwo-Olu reiterated the government’s commitment to go ahead with the seven days ultimatum given to traders and squatters under the bridge, which elapses on Wednesday.
The governor added that the Federal Ministry of Works, alongside Julius Berger, which is the contractor who built the bridge in 1975, would be coming to assess the damage done to the bridge soon.
It would be recalled that the Apongbon section of the Eko bridge was caught in flames last week Wednesday, leading to the closure of parts of the bridge to motorists. The bridge has remained closed since the incident.
Eko bridge is one of three bridges connecting Lagos Island to Lagos Mainland, with the other two being the Third Mainland Bridge and Carter Bridge. Eko bridge is the shortest of the three bridges.
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