Julius Berger has commenced evacuation of the collapsed pedestrian bridge Estate Alapere, Ketu area of Lagos.
The Nation had reported that a truck collided with the pedestrian bridge in Alapere Estate, Ketu, Lagos, on Friday, December 8, causing the bridge to collapse.
Construction workers from Julius Berger were seen evacuating the iron railings of the fallen bridge, for a reconstruction of a new bridge.
Two persons were feared dead in a cults’ clash in Alapere, Lagos on Wednesday.
One of them, Sylvester Chikwendu, 32, was stabbed to death. The other was killed in an exchange with the police. Details about the feuding cult groups and what led to the skirmish were sketchy. The late Chikwendu belonged to a rival cult.
Residents ran for their lives as the fighting raged.
It was gathered that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) for Owode Onirin, Chief Superintendent (CSP) Bernard Ediagbonya, on learning about the incident, mobilised his men to the area.
The officers blocked the road, forcing the cultists to open fire on police vehicle.
One of them fell in the ensuing exchange.
Others fled with injuries, abandoning their Toyota Camry saloon car.
A pump action rifle, one locally-made revolver pistol, a locally-made single barrel pistol, five live 9mm calibre ammunition, three live cartridges, two expended cartridges, two cutlasses, charms and clothes were found in the car which carried no number-plate.
Police spokesman Chike Oti, a Chief Superintendent (CSP), in a statement yesterday said the hoodlums were intercepted by officers around 8:30pm.
Oti said: “Following a tip-off, the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Owode Onirin, Ikorodu, changed the game for the terror gang, who about 6:40pm, at Demuren Street, Alapere, stabbed Sylvester Chikwendu, 32, suspected to be a rival cult member, to death.
“Following the information, the DPO mobilised a crack team to Thomas bus stop, Owode. He told his men to narrow the road and gave them a description of the gang’s operational car.
“When the gang approached the police zone, they became desperate and opened fire on the operatives in their effort to evade arrest, attracting response from the team.
“However, in the ensuing battle, one of them died from the bullet injuries he sustained. Others escaped with gunshot wounds. They abandoned items, which have been recovered. They include operational vehicle, a Toyota Camry saloon car without a number-plate, one pump action rifle, one locally made revolver pistol, one locally made single barrel pistol, five live 9mm calibre ammunition, three live cartridges, two expended cartridges, two cutlasses, charms (juju) and assorted clothes.
“We appeal to health care professionals, including native doctors and other caregivers to be on the lookout for patients with gunshot wounds and inform the police within two hours of commencement of treatment, in line with the Compulsory Treatment of Victims of Gunshot Act.”
Determined to ease the traffic on Ibrahim Babangida Boulevard, at the Ketu/Mile 12 end of Ikorodu Road, the Lagos State Government has begun the recovery of conservative of Right of Way of Alapere-Agboyi-Ketu.
The gridlock on the road, according to the state, usually originates at Alapere Junction and its contiguous roads.
The project, which is a four-lane road of 18.6m width, inclusive of a carriageway, will see the development of Oluwakemi/Ajiboye Street with additional ingress into adjoining streets from Alapere to Agboyi. It is being developed to carry traffic from Alapere through Agboyi towards Ikorodu. The project is a follow up to the first phase of the Alapere layby, constructed to ease traffic off the major road into Alapere.
Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr. Wasiu Anifowoshe, in a statement said the Right of Way project began with the marking of affected buildings.
The statement indicated that the owners of affected structures had been engaged and notified as well as given enough time to remove their wares and salvage their property before the commencement of the operation.
The statement, attributed to Anifowoshe, read in part: “We run an all inclusive government and do not embark on any removal of structure without first obtaining the buy-in of the affected people and communities through the engagement of stakeholders in interactive meetings. Some weeks ago, the state government embarked on a stakeholders’ meeting with the Alapere -Agboyi-Ketu community and interestingly, they embraced the idea, which led to this development.We know what it takes to put up a structure. So, we have planned this project and pledged minimal removal. It is all in the overriding public interest and the economic growth and development of the community and Lagos State as a whole.”
The Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) has begun filling of critical portions of the Alapere/Old Toll Gate Road on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), who visited the site on Monday, reports that FERMA is laying asphalt on the Ibadan-bound carriageway from the Ketu Junction to the Old Toll Gate Bus Stop.
FERMA had deployed men and machines including asphalt-paving machines and rollers on the outer lane of the road.
A source in the agency told NAN on condition of anonymity that FERMA moved to site on Tuesday to lay asphalt on various sections of the road, beginning from Alapere.
Mr Tayo Awodu, a FERMA engineer in charge of the project, said that the agency was working on distressed portions of the highway.
“We are filling distressed portions of the pavement and overlaying them with asphalt.
“We have evolved a new plan to finish the work this month if all things work out according to plans.’’
He noted that heavy vehicular traffic was a major challenge to construction in Lagos, saying that the company was working at night to speed up work.
NAN reports that the road project was awarded to MJD Ventures in November 2016. It was scheduled to be completed by May.
The Voice of Salvation Evangelical Ministry will hold a 13-week leadership course at 12/14, Ademolu Adefuye Street, off Davies Str., Alapere in Agboyi/Ketu Local Government of Lagos State, beginning tomorrow through April 9.
The organiser, J. Olu Ayeni, said participants would be developed into great potentialities with creative minds. Those expected include church leaders, department heads.