Lagos names road in memory of bomb victims

    
Lagos State Government on Monday marked the 12th anniversary of the Ikeja bomb blast in the state by naming a 2.1 kilometre link road in memory of the victims of the incident.

The blast occurred on January 27, 2002 after an accidental detonation of a large stock of military explosives at the Ikeja Military Cantonment. Over 1000 lives were reportedly lost, while property and other valuables were destroyed in the incident.

The state Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, while inaugurating the 2.1km Ejigbo-Ajao Link Road in Ejigbo Local Council Development Area, renamed it “January 27 Link Bridge in remembrance of the victims.”

The governor, who initially observed a minute silence for the victims, said the tragic incident was avoidable if the Federal Government and those in authorities were alive to their responsibilities.

He said, “Women, men and children perished in the Oke-Afa canal because a national government led by the Peoples Democratic “Party failed to do its duties. It was their responsibility to manage bombs and explosives and to look after the Nigerian Military, but they failed.

“Since then, they have pretended as if nothing was wrong.”

Fashola added that the negligence prompted his administration to intervene by rebuilding the schools and hospitals located within the Ikeja Cantonment which were destroyed in the incident.

He said the link road was another fulfilment of the promise of the state government in 2002 to open up the area as part of government’s drive to renew inner city roads.

The governor said, “My predecessor promised you then that a bridge will be built to link Ejigbo and Ajao Estate, I have come here today to fulfil that promise.”

Fashola said it was impossible for the state government to compensate relatives of victims every year. He, however said the beneficiaries that had not been compensated would be sorted out.

Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, said the road would eliminate congestion along the Ejigbo corridor.

He explained that a study of the road showed that travel time had reduced by 75 minutes.

Copyright PUNCH.