A yet-to-be-identified truck has collided with a pedestrian bridge in Alapere Estate, Ketu, Lagos, early Friday morning, causing the bridge to collapse.

The incident occurred around midnight and was first reported by a resident of the estate, Umar-Farouq Ogbe, who shared a video of the collapsed bridge on social media.

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) confirmed the incident, stating that the truck, loaded with metal and exceeding the height restriction, got stuck under the bridge, leading to its collapse.

The debris from the collapsed bridge caused significant traffic gridlock along the Ketu-Alapere axis towards Berger.

Authorities are currently responding to the incident, and further details are expected to be released soon.

Motorists and residents are advised to avoid the affected area and use alternative routes until the situation is cleared.

The statement reads:

PRELIMINARY REPORT REGARDING THE KETU PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE INCIDENT AT KETU BUS STOP.

Following a distress call received today 8th December, 2023 at at 00:52hrs through the agency’s 112/767 toll-free lines, LASEMA activated the Lagos State Emergency Response Plan and promptly arrived the incident scene at 01:06hrs with LRT from Alausa Command Control Centre and the Cappa Base, Oshodi.

Upon arrival of the Agency’s Response Team at the incident scene, it was observed that a trailer with registration number ABG111XF, hooked to a lowbed laden with a specialised container crashed into the Ketu Pedestrian Bridge on high motion.

The crash occurred due to the height of the ‘specialised’ container, which was above standard height, leading to the destruction and total collapse of the Pedestrian Bridge bridge.

A 14-passenger Mazda commercial bus, registration number KJA 752 YD, was crushed in the process, thereby blocking the entire length of the road inward Ojota.

No lives were lost. However, three adult male passengers in the commercial bus sustained various degrees of injuries and had been quickly ferried to an unnamed hospital nearby before arrival of the LASEMA Response Team.

The LRT, LASTMA and NPF are responders making frantic efforts to evacuate the debris of the bridge off the road to restore normalcy.

Status: The commercial bus has been successfully recovered off the road.

Crashed columns of the Pedestrian Bridge have been lifted off the road, while the debris is still being evacuated.

Operation is still ongoing with the continuous clearing of the leftover debris.

The road is partially opened for use as operation continues.

In Attendance: LASEMA Response Team, LASTMA, LASBCA, and the Nigeria Police Force.

Dr. Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu
Permanent Secretary
LASEMA
8th December, 2023