By Nneka Nwogwugwu
Fire destroyed shops under Eko Bridge on the Lagos Island and the blaze also partly damaged the bridge, forcing the state government to close it to traffic.
The fire, according to Director, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Adeseye Margaret, was reported around 03:14am.
Goods worth millions of naira were destroyed and Katsina-Ala Market in Benue State was also burnt yesterday.
An eyewitness told The Nation how the Apongbon fire started.
She said, “We were upstairs when we got a call around 2am alerting us of a fire incident. We rushed downstairs to see where the fire broke out. It didn’t break out from my mom’s shop, the fire started from the other end of the bridge.”
Motorists were told to take alternative routes.
National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) announced alternative routes for Lagos Island-bound commuters and motorists.
Its Southwest Zonal Coordinator, Mr Ibrahim Farinloye, said mororists coming from Ikorodu Road should take a detour via Jibowu to connect Yaba through to Oyingbo or Adekunle, from there to Adeniji and Adeniji to Ebutte Ero or continue their movement 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 journey to Apapa or toward Leventis, UBA Roundabout to connect Marina.”
