By: Nwakaji Peace Martins
Numerous market vendors and commuters narrowly escaped a tragic fate in the early hours of yesterday when a truck transporting two 20-foot containers lost control and toppled over the Liverpool bridge in Apapa, Lagos.
The market vendors, peddling a variety of goods such as fish and wares, beneath the Liverpool bridge were spared from imminent danger as the containers were prevented from falling on them by the protective fenders installed on the bridge.
Upon the arrival of Daily Sun at the scene, the containers had been dismantled by the fenders of the bridge, resulting in debris strewn all over underneath.
An eyewitness named Paul Leye, a clearing agent recounted that the truck was attempting to ascend the bridge towards Tin Can port when it suddenly slipped, reversing down the slope before flipping over and causing the containers to crash down.
Leye further explained that the close proximity of another bridge leading to the Tin Can Truck Park prevented the two containers from plummeting down.
Another individual using the port, Lucky Bassey, expressed to Daily Sun that aside from the brake malfunction, the truck was insufficient to transport two 20-foot containers on this route, emphasizing that such dilapidated trucks should not be permitted on the port access road.
He emphasized the necessity for the government to conduct an integrity assessment on the Liverpool bridge to assess the extent of the damage, noting that the bridge has been vibrating for years without any intervention.
“The destruction caused by the truck to the federal government’s infrastructure is evident. The fenders of the bridge have been compromised, and it has been repeatedly emphasized that such trucks are unfit for the road. Unfortunately, the authorities have turned a blind eye,” he stated.
He went on to highlight the numerous market vendors conducting business under the Liverpool bridge, emphasizing that divine intervention saved many lives on that day. Stressing the importance of keeping outdated trucks off the roads to prevent further destruction and loss of life.
As of the time of reporting, security personnel and traffic officers were awaiting the arrival of equipment for the evacuation process.
