The state government is replacing the iron railings on Iponri Bridge with concrete guardrails due to ongoing problems with vandalism and theft.
Speaking to The Record, construction worker, Rafiu Omoola, said the new concrete railings are far stronger and more durable than the old iron ones, which were often stolen by local youths.
“The area boys used to steal the iron railings and sell them, but they won’t be able to do that with these concrete ones,” he said. “They’re much tougher, and these railings will last a lifetime.”
Mr. Lateef Adelabu, 45, a mechanic who works under the bridge, confirmed the persistent theft. He said the thieves typically strike late at night.
“I work here, leave for home, and return in the morning,” he said. “I don’t stay here overnight, so I haven’t seen them, but they come when I’m already at home.”
Miracle Pius, a receptionist at i-fitness Gym, said this was the first time she’d heard about the issue but that wasn’t shocked.
“It’s obviously wrong to steal something meant for public benefit, but given the state of the country, people are struggling,” she said.
A site engineer, Mr Olaniyi, said the reconstruction project has been ongoing for more than three months, starting with the Ijora Bridge.
When asked for an estimated time frame for completion, he said, “we are taking our time without rushing to ensure quality work. I don’t know when it’ll be done.”
A recurring problem
Bridge vandalism has become an escalating concern in Lagos, with railings and other structural components frequently stolen or damaged.
In 2023, the Federal Government was compelled to order the closure of the Iponri bridge, citing vandalism as the cause of a structural failure in one section.
In 2022, Nigerian Tribune reported that the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) recovered 13 bars of protective railings from a bridge in Ijora. The suspects abandoned their getaway vehicle and fled upon spotting the police.
By 2023, authorities arrested a 30-year-old man caught vandalizing Carter Bridge, further underscoring the persistent issue.
In 2024, PM News reported another arrest when 28-year-old Yakubu Yusuf was apprehended with 21 long pieces of aluminum railings.
The Record reached out to Lagos state government spokespersons, Jubril Gawat and Gboyega Akosile for a statement on the government’s strategies to combat the growing issue of public infrastructure vandalism. However, we did not receive a response.