NGO Hails Nigerians’ Support Over Third Mainland Bridge Repairs

A Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), The Progressive Volunteers, has commended the Nigerian people for their cooperation, support and endurance exhibited during the period of the repairs of the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos which started last year and about to be reopened for uninterrupted traffic flow this weekend.

The NGO dropped the appreciation, not at the heel of the report credited to the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, who was quoted as assuring that the bridge would be finally opened in full by this weekend.

Convener of the organization, Comrade Soyoye Ekundayo, in a release in Lagos Friday expressed his group’s appreciation over the people’s cooperation with the Federal Government and the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), saying, “their endurance and perseverance during the repairs of the multi-purpose route were real exhibitions of high level of patriotism.”

According to the statement, the Minister’s job was made easier and thorough through the understanding of the people who reasoned that the project was in the general interest of the citizenry, who admitted that there is always gain after pains, adding that, “the project has also portrayed the Federal Government under the able leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari as a lover of the people’s welfare.”

The NGO appreciated the fact that the project has, no doubt affected the residents’ economic activities drastically through slow pace of traffic movement and thus causes stress for road users across the state, praising them for considering the long term benefit of the repairs over any form of selfish short term advantages.

The organization also commended other road users, Traffic Management Agencies, security apparatus as well as the generality of the residents for their strict adherence to the traffic rules occasioned by the closure of the Third Mainland Bridge, adding that, “the efforts of our members, who volunteered to help out during the period across the state are also noted and recognised.”

Recall that the organization, at the commencement of the repairs last year raised 1000 volunteers to assist in the traffic control to allow for smooth motoring across the vital areas in the Lagos metropolis, saying, “when a government is doing the right thing for the welfare and safety of the citizenry, it behoves on the latter to support the former with a view to encouraging it to do more, and not assume the position of fault-finders alone.”

The 1000 volunteers raised was because of the group’s awareness of the traffic problem the closing down of the bridge would bring on the residents and thus, its resolve to lend a helping hands to reduce the effect of the traffic hiccups on the populace.