Lagos Moves To Relocate Traders Affected By Apongbon Bridge Fire

Shop owners at the scene of the fire incident try to salvage whatever they can at Apongbon market in Lagos, Nigeria, on March 23, 2022. – A morning fire on March 23, 2022 badly damaged a main bridge in Nigeria’s commercial capital Lagos, razing dozens of shops and risking more traffic chaos in the city.The blaze broke out during of an extended nationwide electricity shortage, which along with a spike in global fuel prices is already hurting households and businesses in Africa’s largest economy.

Efforts are on by the Lagos Island Local Council in collaboration with the state government to relocate traders affected by the Apongbon fire incident.

The Council boss, Hon. (Prince) Tijani Adetoyese Olusi, disclosed this while giving an update on efforts to return normalcy to the area and ensure that affected residents have their means of livelihood back.

Adetoyese Olusi stressed that the move was in partnership with the Federal and State Governments.

He said: “We are working round the clock to see that our people, affected by the unfortunate fire incident, have their lives back.

“Relocating them is a priority for us, just as ensuring that safety is never compromised in the area again.
“As a local council, we are in touch with the Federal and State governments in doing the needful, to fix the current problem and ensure there is no repeat.

“As a mark of our commitment to getting the affected traders back on their feet, in weeks from now, in collaboration with the State Government, they would be moved to new and conducive trading points in the downtown commercial hub of Lagos Island, to continue with their trading.

“In collaboration with the central government, we are working to ensure that the area affected by the incident is cleaned up and every trading activity and illegality permanently disengaged at the Apongbon/Berger under bridge.”

Adetoyese Olusi urged people in the council to be law-abiding to help the government fulfil its mandate.

Source:- Guardian

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