General
FG To Reopen Eko, Apongbon Bridges Ahead of Schedule
By Adedapo Adesanya
The federal government has announced that it will re-open both the Eko and Apongbon Bridges to road users ahead of schedule by midnight of July 9, 2023, six days earlier than initially planned.
The Director for Highways, Bridges and Designs in the Federal Ministry of Works, Mr Omotayo Awosanya, confirmed this while leading top engineers from the Federal team and Lagos State on an inspection tour of the bridges.
According to him, this is to alleviate the suffering of road users who have had to suffer commuting stress due to the closure of the infrastructures.
Both Apongbon and Eko Bridges were razed by fire caused by human activities in 2022.
Apongbon Bridge was affected by fire in March 2022, and efforts for its December completion were stalled by another fire that affected the Ijora Olopa section of the Eko Bridge on November 4.
On the other hand, the Ijora Olopa section of Marine Bridge damaged by vandals was shut on May 17, 2023, for safety of the public.
The team earlier had a closed-door meeting with Buildwell Plants and Equipment Industries Limited, contractors on the project, at their construction yard in Costain.
Recall that Business Post had reported that the federal government had earlier set July 15 completion deadline for the bridges.
Upon inspection of the Apongbon Bridge, both up and beneath, and the Ijora-Olopa section of the Eko Bridge by the joint team, Mr Awosanya said the date review was borne out of the need to relieve stress commuters have undergone for almost a year since the fire gutted the Apongbon section and later Ijora Olopa portion.
“At exactly midnight on Sunday, July 9, the bridges will be re-opened so that commuters will have smooth passage on Monday morning of July 10.”
He said that when the bridges are re-opened, there will be intermittent short closures to continue repairs.
He said an existing contract for the rehabilitation of the entire Eko Bridge had reached 50 per cent completion.
The director added that a total of 150 bearings had been replaced, with an additional 150 to be installed in subsequent rehabilitation works.
He said full-scale rehabilitation would continue on other sections of the Eko Bridge, as the contract is meant to last three years.
“We have come here to urge the contractor to reduce five days out of the 15th of July; we are now going to open the bridge on the 9th at 12.00 midnight.
“And a minute after 12.00 a.m on the 9th, the bridge will be opened for traffic on the 10th.
“This is as a result of close collaboration between the federal government and Lagos State Government because we are mindful of the stress the closure of this bridge has caused to Lagosians, and we have put pressure on the contractor to open the bridge on Monday for traffic.
“This will reduce the stress presently on other bridges connecting the island and Victoria Island,” he said.
He warned that the Federal Government would evacuate all illegal squatters under all Lagos Bridges, causing damage to the infrastructure.
He noted that the collaboration of the federal and state governments would help to achieve the eviction of the squatters under the Apongbon and Ijora bridges, as well as other bridges.
The Permanent Secretary Office of Infrastructure in Lagos State, Mr Olufemi Daramola, expressed satisfaction with the level of work, assuring residents of a better motoring experience on the axis after the re-opening of both bridges.
Mr Daramola said with what is on the ground, “9th of July is very realistic”, assuring that arrangements were at a high level towards the protection of all bridges.
On her part, the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos State, Mrs Olukorede Kesha, appreciated the Lagos public for their patience while the repairs of both bridges lasted.
Mrs Kesha appealed to residents to be vigilant and report illegalities and vandalism, adding that they should take ownership of all infrastructure to prevent the wastage of scarce resources that go into repairs.
The joint team from the Federal and Lagos State governments also inspected the Ijora Olopa section of the Marine Bridge, scheduled for completion in September 2023.
During the inspection, Mrs Kesha assured that demolition had been completed on all the five panels destroyed by vandals, adding that casting of concrete was set to begin.
The delivery date for Apongbon Bridge was extended to May 2023 because some materials for its repairs were used to start the emergency repair of the Ijora Olopa section.
The government later set another deadline for July 15 which was reviewed downward to July 9.
The 4.1km Eko Bridge links Lagos Island with Mainland. It directly links to Apongbon on the Island side.
Eko Bridge has been undergoing phased rehabilitation, but the contract for its comprehensive maintenance was awarded in February 2022 and is expected to extend to 2026.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
In order to aid alternative and sustainable means of livelihood amid rising food prices and growing concerns over food security in Nigeria, the Ibese Plant of Dangote Cement Plc has handed over a state-of-the-art garri and fufu processing plant to the Kajola host community in Ewekoro Local Government Area of Ogun State.
The facility is expected to support cassava farmers and processors by improving efficiency and expanding income-generating opportunities.
According to the organisation, the project, delivered under the Community Development Agreement (CDA) with its host communities signed in 2022, is a strategic intervention aimed at boosting agricultural value addition, reducing post-harvest losses and strengthening livelihoods for rural farmers and women.
The Ibese Plant Director, Mr Ayyagari Subbaraidu, at the commissioning, said, “This project is aimed at improving cassava processing, reducing losses and creating sustainable employment for women and farmers in the community.”
He disclosed that the facility features separate garri and fufu processing units equipped with modern machinery, including a five-tonne-per-day peeling machine, hydraulic presses, frying systems, fermentation basins, solar-powered boreholes and sanitation infrastructure, adding that it will serve as a catalyst for local economic growth by enhancing productivity and supporting small-scale agribusinesses across Kajola and neighbouring communities.
The Plant Director also urged the community and the Project Governance Committee to maintain transparency in the management of the facility to ensure long-term sustainability.
The Ogun State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr Bolu Owotomo, who was at the unveiling of the project, said it aligns with Governor Dapo Abiodun’s vision of making agriculture a key driver of economic growth through value addition and enterprise development.
The Commissioner disclosed that “over 166,000 farmers, including more than 90,000 cassava farmers, have been registered under the Ogun State Farmers Information Management System (OGFIMS) to benefit from government interventions.”
He urged the community to safeguard the facility and assured residents of the continued support of the state government towards agricultural development and food security.
“This processing plant will strengthen the cassava value chain, improve product quality, create jobs and enhance food security while boosting farmers’ incomes,” the Commissioner stated.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The federal government has hailed the recent sanctioning of three Nigerian bureau de change (BDC) operators by the United States’ Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) for alleged terrorism financing.
“The Nigeria Sanctions Committee welcomes the recent inclusion of Mukthar Muhammad Adamu, Nine to Nine BDC, and Generation BDC Limited by the United States Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
“These designations follow the inclusion of Adamu and his companies as part of a broader update to the Nigeria Sanctions List approved and published on 18th June 2026,” it disclosed in a statement.
It said that the naming of the three companies and six people followed extensive intelligence gathering, financial investigations, and inter-agency assessments, which established reasonable grounds to believe that the affected individuals and entities facilitated, financed, supported, or otherwise contributed to the activities of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and associated terrorist networks.
“The individuals and entities added to the Nigeria Sanctions List on 18th June 2026 are Ibrahim Yakubu Ogirima (NLISWi.19), Muktar Muhammad Adamu (NLISWi.20), Adamu Chiroma (NLISWi.21), Ibrahim Abubakar (NLISWi.22), Abdullahi Umar Usman (NLISWi.23), Babangida Muhammed Adamu Hammajam (NLISWi.24), Abbal Bako & Sons Bureau De Change Limited (NLISWe.25), Generation Currency BDC Limited (NLISWe.26), Nine to Nine BDC Limited (NLISWe.27),” the statement read in part.
The federal government reiterated its directive to all financial institutions and designated non-financial businesses and professions to continue to comply with all sanctions obligations, including asset-freezing requirements, the filing of suspicious transaction reports, and the reporting of all relevant matches to the appropriate authorities.
The sanctions committee commended the work of the Federal Ministry of Justice, Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Department of State Services, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit for their actions to ensure that terrorist groups are denied the resources that sustain their activities.
It stated that Nigeria remains resolute in its commitment to ensuring that terrorists and their financiers find no safe haven within the country’s financial system.
The committee also said that the Federal Government would continue to work closely with domestic stakeholders and international partners to protect national security, strengthen financial integrity, and contribute to global efforts to combat terrorism and its financing.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
A radio station, Wise FM, has been sealed by officials of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA).
The premises of the broadcast media platform, located on Ogabi Street, Meiran, Ile-Iwe Bus Stop, were shut by the state government on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, alongside other establishments across different parts of Lagos State for alleged persistent violations of environmental regulations despite repeated warnings, abatement notices, and opportunities provided for compliance.
In a statement by LASEPA, it was disclosed that the enforcement exercise was carried out in response to various environmental infractions, including noise pollution, air pollution, obstruction of official duties, and failure to comply with its directives.
As regards Wise FM, it was said that it was sealed for noise and air pollution as well as non-compliance with the Agency’s directives.
Another organisation affected, Star-View Terrace, located in Amuwo Odofin, Lagos, was shut down for noise pollution and non-compliance with the agency’s directives, while Premiership Suites, located at Akin Osiyemi Street, Off Allen Avenue, Ikeja, was sealed for non-compliance with the agency’s directives.
Speaking on the enforcement operation, the General Manager of LASEPA, Mr Babatunde Ajayi, reiterated the organisation’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding public health and ensuring a cleaner, safer, and more sustainable environment across Lagos State.
He stressed that both individuals and corporate organisations have a responsibility to comply with environmental laws and regulations, stressing that environmental protection remains a collective duty that requires the cooperation of all stakeholders.
The LASEPA boss warned that the agency would continue to intensify enforcement actions against violators in order to curb environmental nuisances and protect residents from the harmful effects of pollution.
Mr Ajayi urged residents, business owners, and operators of commercial establishments to adopt environmentally responsible practices and cooperate with regulatory authorities in promoting a healthier, cleaner, and more livable Lagos.
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