Apongbon Bridge inferno destroy shops, throws Lagos into gridlock

A raging fire in the morning hours on Wednesday has destroyed shops under the Apongbon section of the Eko Bridge causing gridlock and crippling commercial activities in some parts of Lagos Island.

Though the cause of the fire incident is yet to be ascertained, traders and eyewitnesses say the fire was caused by a power surge at about 2 am.

Traders estimate that goods worth millions of naira have been destroyed by the fire.

Meanwhile, Lagos workers plying the Apongbon route to Lagos Island found it difficult to get to their destinations Wednesday morning due to the fire incident.

LENS reporter who also experienced the situation observed that shops under the bridge were on fire.

There was heavy vehicular gridlock that spread from the scene of the disaster towards Costain, Funsho Williams Avenue in Surulere.

For a few commuters who were lucky to get commercial motorcycles, Okada complained about the neck break cost of the getaway trip.

According to an eyewitness, there are informal stores under the bridge that caught fire early morning and until now men of the fire service are yet to show up.

At 11:46 a fire service vehicle drove to the scene. The vehicle had to take one way on Eko Bridge so as to get to the scene on time.