Reps implore IG to evacuate heavy-duty vehicles from Lagos bridges

The House of Representatives has issued a directive to the inspector general of police, Ibrahim Idris, to remove heavy duties from bridges in Lagos

The police and other security agencies were directed to remove the heavy-duty vehicles to save the bridges from collapsing

The lawmakers issued the directive following a motion made by Honourable Enitan Badru The inspector general of police, Ibrahim Idris, and other security agencies have been directed by the House of Representatives to remove heavy-duty vehicles from bridges in Lagos state to save them from collapsing. This Day reports that the directive was given on Wednesday, December 5, following a motion by the lawmaker representing Lagos Island I at the House, Honourable Enitan Badru.

Legit.ng gathers that the motion is titled Need to urgently save Eko Bridge, long bridge in Fadeyi, Ojuelegba and National Stadium from imminent collapse due to parking by tankers, trailers and other articulated vehicles in Lagos State.

According to Badru, drivers of articulated vehicles should be compelled to use parks established for them.

He said whoever flouts the order should face the wrath of the law. The ministry of works, power, and housing, headed by ex-governor Babatunde Fashola, was also charged to inspect and evaluate the bridges to ascertain if they are in good condition.

He said: “These bridges were not designed to carry such heavy trucks on daily basis, let alone parking thousands of them on the bridges. Our traffic laws forbid parking of any vehicle whatsoever on bridges, because it may lead to bridge collapse.

“All over the world, cases of bridge collapse since 1800 to date have been as a result of bridges carrying more weight over a long period of time as against the initially designed weight.”

Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that President Muhammadu Buhari warned truck drivers to stay away from roadside parking on federal highways and establish private parking lots to avoid congestion and aid vehicular mobility throughout the nation.

The president gave the warning at a public enlightenment forum, organised by the federal ministry of power, works, and housing, on Monday, March 19, in Abuja.

The event was organised by the ministry to orientate the public and other stakeholders on recent developments in the road sector such as weigh bridges, road signage and return of the toll gates. Buhari said this became important to ensure massive investments in the road sector; especially capital projects raised from 15% to 30% to achieve desired impacts as well as prevent overloading of heavy-duty vehicles.

The president took cognisance of the importance of good roads to achieving the economic recovery growth plan.

He said: “The eradication of overloading on our highways will promote competitiveness in business and reduce high maintenance cost of heavy-duty vehicles.

I implore all vehicle fleet operators and tanker drivers to stop parking their vehicles on the federal highways, as these often cause roads to be congested and gridlocks.

Credit: Legit.ng