Residents and commuters along the Agric-Isawo axis of Ikorodu, Lagos State, have received relief following the opening of the inbound section of the AFA Bridge to traffic.
For years, road users in the area had endured flooded roads, difficult bridge crossings and prolonged journeys due to the poor condition of the route.
The opening of the inbound carriageway is expected to ease movement in the area, although construction work is still ongoing on the outbound section.
AFA Bridge Inbound Section Opens
The development followed an inspection of ongoing road and bridge projects by the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Infrastructure, Olufemi Daramola, alongside the Permanent Secretary, Office of Infrastructure, Olutokunbo Oyenuga, and other technical directors.
Speaking during the inspection, Daramola said the inbound section of the AFA Bridge on Agric-Isawo Road had been opened to motorists.
“It is bye-bye to driving through the floodplain. Construction, however, continues on the outbound section,” he said.
A commuter, Emmanuel Dickson, described the opening as a major relief after years of difficulties navigating the area.
He commended the Lagos State Government and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, saying residents could now cross the route without facing the challenges previously associated with the road.
Motorists Warned Over Construction Zone
Oyenuga urged motorists and pedestrians to exercise caution, noting that the area remained a construction zone.
He advised motorists to obey speed limits and traffic instructions while warning against unauthorised bus stops and passenger loading around the bridge.
Pedestrians were also advised to use designated walkways and stay away from construction areas.
The Chairman of Ikorodu West Local Council Development Area, Sulaimon Kazeem Olanrewaju, commended the state government for addressing the challenges faced by residents and road users.
He pledged the council’s support for the proper management and maintenance of the infrastructure.
The Baale of Ajagunro-Owutu, Chief S.O. Orepitan Iwofun, also welcomed the development, saying residents of the Isawo axis had endured significant hardship because of the poor state of the road.
Itowolo Bridge Rehabilitation Underway
The inspection team also visited the ongoing rehabilitation of Itowolo Bridge and reconstruction of the Aruna U-Turn in Ikorodu Local Government Area.
The Baale of Itowolo, Chief Sikiru Kolawole Aregbeshola, said the rehabilitation addressed a longstanding concern in the community.
He expressed appreciation to the state government for responding to repeated appeals for intervention, noting that the project would improve mobility and make transportation safer for residents.
At Mile 12 in Kosofe Local Council, the team inspected the Maidan-Patele Link Bridge and Approach Roads project.
The project involves upgrading the existing pedestrian bridge to accommodate both vehicular and pedestrian traffic.
A resident, Dennis Adeola, said the pedestrian bridge had been unusable for almost four years, forcing residents to rely on canoes, particularly during rainfall.
He said the situation had been especially difficult for elderly residents and had contributed to long queues and delays in the community.
Lagos Government Promises Completion of Projects
Daramola said the projects were part of the Lagos State Government’s wider investment in road and bridge infrastructure across the state.
According to him, the inspection was part of the administration’s routine monitoring of ongoing infrastructure projects.
He assured residents that the projects would be completed on schedule and urged road users to obey traffic signs and avoid construction areas.
Daramola also appealed to residents to protect the infrastructure, stressing that the projects were funded with taxpayers’ money.
He added that the government would work with relevant agencies to strengthen enforcement and sensitise residents on the need to protect public infrastructure.
