Stakeholders in the transport sector have expressed deep concern over the deteriorating state of the Marine Bridge in Apapa, Lagos, which has been repeatedly closed for repairs over the past 10 years. They have called on the Federal Government to embark on a total overhaul of the ever-busy bridge and consider constructing another one.
Official records show that the Marine Bridge was constructed in phases between 1965 and 1975 by Julius Berger Nigeria Plc. The bridge, along with its landward extension, was built to reduce the severe traffic congestion that plagued Lagos during the 1970s and 1980s.
Since its completion, the Marine Bridge has remained a major artery for the movement of imports and exports in and out of Lagos ports. However, years of intense usage and neglect have left the bridge in a worrisome state, raising safety concerns among road users and port stakeholders.
Checks by Shipping Position Daily revealed that the bridge has been showing signs of ageing for the past 15 years, requiring periodic renovations due to heavy traffic pressure and exposure to harsh environmental conditions.
The situation became particularly dire in 2016, when the bridge was closed for six months for major repairs — a development that has recurred almost annually. For instance, it was closed for four months in 2017, six months in 2018, five months in 2020, and three months in 2021. In 2022, it was partially closed for three months (January 7 to April 2) for emergency repairs. In 2023, lane diversions lasted for about three months in February, followed by a 41-day closure from November to December. In 2024, another three-month rehabilitation was ordered from December through February 2025.
Recently, the Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Oluwaseun Osiyemi, announced another closure of the bridge for 15 days — from Saturday, October 11, to Saturday, October 25, 2025 — to allow for urgent maintenance by the Federal Ministry of Works.
Osiyemi explained that the maintenance would be carried out in two phases to minimize traffic disruptions. Phase I, from October 11 to 18, affects the section from the foot of the bridge at Lawani Oguntayo Road (by UBA, inbound Apapa/Costain), while Phase II, from October 19 to 25, covers the stretch between Ijora Badia and Lilypond Access Ramp (inbound Apapa).
When Shipping Position Daily visited last week, it observed that the bridge’s condition had severely deteriorated. Several sections have broken rails, deep potholes, and unmotorable portions that pose grave risks to container-laden trucks and motorists.
The ongoing repairs have worsened traffic gridlock, as truckers and other motorists are forced to use alternative routes, making movement in and out of the port corridor extremely hectic.
Stakeholders described the recurring maintenance as a short-term fix that fails to address the root structural issues. They urged the Federal Government to embark on a total reconstruction of the bridge.
As the export season peaks, stakeholders fear that continued deterioration and frequent closures of the Marine Bridge could disrupt port operations and hamper economic activity in the Apapa corridor if sustainable action is not taken.
A chieftain of the Lagos State Truck and Cargo Operators Committee (LASTCOC), Mr. Seyi Adekanbi, lamented the government’s “fire-brigade” approach to maintenance.
“It’s strange that the bridge gets closed three to five times every year for repairs. That shows there’s a serious structural problem that needs to be addressed once and for all. The Marine Bridge is too important to the economy to be treated this way,” he said.
Adekanbi added that while the Ministry of Works had hinted at plans for comprehensive rehabilitation, details remain unclear. He also called for the construction of an alternative bridge to reduce pressure on the Marine Bridge and ease traffic congestion.
“If there was another bridge, the burden on the Marine Bridge would have reduced. This would also ease movement and reduce exploitation by traffic officials who extort truckers in gridlock,” he said.
Similarly, a truck owner and member of the Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO), Mr. Segun Ajayi, described the Marine Bridge as a critical national asset — the main artery for Nigeria’s imports and exports. He noted that virtually all cargo movement to and from Lagos ports passes through the bridge, making it one of the busiest in West Africa.
He recounted how, in the absence of proper routes, truckers were forced to use narrow inner roads through Ijora and Ajegunle, resulting in chaotic traffic and security challenges.
“You would see trucks lined up for kilometers, drivers being extorted, batteries stolen, and vehicles vandalized. It became a nightmare,” he said.
Ajayi urged the Federal Government to invest in alternative routes and clear illegal activities beneath the bridge.
“Underneath the bridge has become a market where illegal activities like drug sales occur. Sometimes, drivers are harassed or robbed. The government should clear the area and make it safe,” he added.
He further advised that a dedicated truck passage be created as an alternative corridor for heavy-duty vehicles.
“Before any more work is done on the bridge, there should first be a designated truck route linking the port area through the waterway axis so that the Marine Bridge won’t continue to suffer this pressure year after year,” he concluded.
