The House of Representatives has mandated its Committee on Works to investigate developments, commercial activities, container terminals, markets and other structures located beneath and within the right-of-way of Eko Bridge and other federal bridges in Lagos State.
The investigation is aimed at determining the legality of the structures and activities and their compliance with relevant laws and regulations.
The House also mandated the Committee on Public Assets to ascertain whether any public asset has been compromised, occupied, leased, alienated or otherwise utilised contrary to extant laws, and to identify all persons, agencies or organizations responsible.
It equally directed the Federal Ministry of Works, FERMA, the Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority (where applicable), the Lagos State Physical Planning authorities and other relevant agencies to furnish the Committees with approved engineering drawings, survey plans, Right-of-Way maps, occupancy approvals and all relevant documents relating to developments around Eko Bridge.
The resolutions were sequel to the adoption of a motion of urgent Public Importance On ” The Need To Investigate Illegal Encroachment And Unauthorised Commercial Activities Within The Right-of-way Of Eko Bridge And Other Federal Bridges In Lagos State”, sponsored by Mr. Lanre Okunlola.
Leading the debate on the motion, Mr. Okunlola recommended appropriate enforcement measures, including the removal of all illegal structures found to be within the Federal Right-of-Way, and propose long-term measures for the protection, monitoring and preservation of Federal bridges nationwide.
The motion reads: “The House Notes that Eko Bridge is a strategic Nigerian Government infrastructure under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Works, serving as one of the major transportation corridors linking Lagos Mainland and Lagos Island. The Federal Ministry of Works has consistently maintained that the Right-of-Way of Federal roads and bridges is protected from unauthorized developments and has declared that structures erected within the designated Right-of-Way constitute illegal encroachments. Recent reports by the Federal Ministry of Works revealed that illegal activities around Eko Bridge, including unauthorised operations near the bridge foundations, resulted in damage to critical structural components, thereby necessitating emergency engineering intervention to safeguard the bridge. Numerous containers, makeshift structures, warehouses, markets, workshops and other commercial developments have continued to emerge beneath and around Eko Bridge and adjoining bridge corridors, raising serious concerns regarding public safety, structural integrity, environmental sanitation, fire hazards and unrestricted access for bridge inspection and maintenance. The continued occupation of areas beneath and adjacent to Federal bridges may impede routine engineering inspections, emergency repairs and future expansion works while posing significant risks to commuters and adjoining communities.”
Mr Okunlola said that the continued encroachment on the Federal Right-of-Way could undermine the lifespan and structural stability of critical bridge infrastructure.
The lawmaker also said that” there is uncertainty regarding whether the occupants possess valid approvals from any competent Federal authority and whether such approvals, if any, comply with the provisions of the Federal Highways Act, applicable planning regulations and Federal Ministry of Works guidelines.”
“The absence of effective inter-agency coordination between the Federal Ministry of Works, the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), the Lagos State Government and other relevant agencies may have contributed to the proliferation of unauthorised developments,” he said.
Adopting the motion, the House referred the motion to the Committee on Works and required the Committees to report back to the House within six (6) weeks for further legislative action.
