Oke-Ogbere link bridge makes N150 million in first year
By Damilola Kushimo
At the rate of no fewer than 1500 commuters paying various tolls daily, the owners of the Oke-Ogbere Link Bridge made N150million in the first year of operations.
ECHONEWS learnt that no fewer than 200 buses, 150 tricycles, 100 motorcycles and a thousand pedestrians use the bridge on daily basis which amount to 529,250 commuters accessed the bridge in a year.
With N50 toll paid per pedestrian and N200, N150 and N100 paid by car, bus and motorcycle and tricycle respectively, the company has made not less than N150million..
Since it was commissioned on Thursday December 5, 2019, the road users have significantly increased despite paying tolls.
The Bridge was constructed by De-Prinocc Construction Company Limited on concession last year.
It was concessioned to the company by the federal government under the watch of National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA).
The bridge was built under Public Private Partnership (PPP) agreement to link Oke-Ogbere community in Isolo LCDA to other neighbouring communities since the artificial canal earlier constructed had divided the community from others.
The bridge has bridged the gap between Oke-Ogbere community and other neighbouring communities including Bucknor, Jakande Gate, Isheri Oshun, Amuwo Odofin, Okota and Isolo as it has since become a reliable escape route for almost all road users coming from Ejigbo, Egbe-Idimu, Ikotun-Igando LCDAs to Isolo, Amuwo Odofin, Mushin, Oshodi-Isolo LGAs from the time-wasting traffic congestion on the narrowed Mushin-Isolo Road.
According to users sampled by Echonews, most of them love using the route because of the convenuences such as dual paths for vehicles, electricity that illuminates and 24-hour Closed Circuit Television (CCTV).
They also cite regular patrol by security operatives from both neighbouring police stations and also security operatives from Area D.
Commissioning the project last year, former Minister for Defence, Sen. Musiliu Obanikoro commended the CEO of De-Prinocc Construction Company, Ambassador Prince Yommy Ogungbe for citing such infrastructure between the communities, emphasising that such project needs to be replicated in areas that crave for development in Lagos state to connect them.
On the occasion, Ogungbe promised that the bridge would stand the test of time and lead to the development of the environment.
To fulfil its promise, the company graded the access roads leading directly to the bridge.
Ogungbe said: “The cost implication of Oke-Ogbere link bridge is high. The construction was done with best quality of construction materials and with effective maintenance, the project would last for more than 50 years.
“Before construction, we did soil test and realised that the soil was muddy. In each of the pipes we buried inside, we still have another 16MM iron rod inside before casting with concrete. The pipe inside is mine steel that will be there for good 30 years with nothing happening to it.”
Commenting on the bridge and the company’s handling of the business, the Baale of Oke-Ogbere Community, High Chief Tajudeen Amoo Orilowo, said it has been useful to his community and the other neighbouring communities.
He noted that in the past one year of its operation, the bridge has attracted other developments in terms of economic and social growth to the community.
The monarch supported the claim by referencing the new businesses at the entrance of the community road especially the hotel.
He said the the owner of the hotel has also interlocked the road from the main entrance into the community to the front of his business premises.
The chief explained that the ongoing construction of second outfall on the Community Road by the state government was encouraged by the growing population of the community as a result of its connection to other communities.
His words: “We’ve been enjoying the facility as there have been rapid developments not only on our side but, on both ends of the divide. Before now, they sold a plot at the rate of N2.5million or N3million but now, it is between N10million and N12million over there and between N30million and N35million here.
“The infrastructure is an enormous blessing, it has brought a lot of developments to the community and we hope to see more. The people are happy. The bridge has been so important on the basis that it connects communities together. There has been great ease on interrelation and inter-trading.”
Meanwhile, some of the commuters who spoke to ECHONEWS were not bothered with the tolls they paid as they were particularly concerned with the comfort of getting to their destinations with ease since the bridge was constructed.
