The Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, has ordered the immediate closure of the waterway between the Eko and Carter Bridges in Lagos.
This follows the structural damage to Eko Bridge, reportedly caused by illegal dredging activities.
The directive came during the minister’s inspection tour of critical infrastructure across Lagos on Saturday.
Umahi urged Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to take urgent action to enforce the closure, warning that continued activity in the area poses a significant risk to public safety.
“The dredger struck a pier cap, causing both the cap and the pier to collapse and sink,”; Umahi revealed during the tour.
“He confirmed that the operator or owner of the dredging equipment has been apprehended, and assured that the Federal Government would pursue strict punitive measures due to the scale of the damage.
Expressing his dismay, the minister noted that illegal dredging is still being carried out along the Third Mainland Bridge, despite a Federal Executive Council resolution passed four months ago, banning all dredging activities within a 10-kilometre radius of any bridge in Nigeria.
“I am shocked to see dredging still going on. These activities compromise the structural integrity of our bridges,”; Umahi said.
He also cautioned against the growing trend of parking and loading on bridges, urging members of the public to refrain from such practices.
The minister stressed that preserving Nigeria’s infrastructure and ensuring the safety of citizens must remain a top priority.
