Shippers decry hardship to access Lagos ports over planned closure of Third Mainland Bridge.

Segun Oladipupo |

Shippers Association Lagos State (SALS) has called on the Lagos State Government (LASG) to help redirect traffic to Apapa as it plans to block the Third Mainland Bridge for repairs.

The President, Rev. Jonathan Nicol, in an interview with our correspondent on Wednesday, said if alternatives were not provided, the group may be forced to declare state of emergency on the traffic situation.

Rev. Nicol lamented that it now takes about two hours to drive through Costain single lane as well as it is now a herculean task taking Surulere route to the port.

“It has become a major issue to access the Surulere route to Apapa. It takes close to two hours to go through to Costain single lane.

” The Surulere end of the road to climb the bridge to Eko and Apapa are closed for so many months now, making life unbearable for commuters.

“The Costain route is now a one way if coming from Lagos or from Apapa to Stadium. “Traffic are diverted through Nigerian Breweries Road to link Bode Thomas. “The stress in linking these routes are terrible. Now that the 3rd Mainland Bridge will be closed this month, access to Apapa Port is dim.

“The 3rd Mainland bridge was a very useful link to Iddo. Unless the Surulere bridge to link the Eko Bridge is open to enable cars access the Eco bridge to Lagos and Apapa, the situation will be a total lockdown.

“We are constant users of these routes where trade is facilitated through the movements of goods with heavy trucks from Apapa Main and Tin can Island Ports. If something is not done quickly to re-direct traffic in and out of Apapa, we will call for a State of Emergency.

“The Oshodi Tincan Island road under construction is very slow due to heavy rain and flooding, we believe. So heavy trucks cannot use the roads. This is an appeal from Shippers Association Lagos State,” he stated.