Lagosians Demand Permanent Fire Trucks On Third Mainland Bridge

Lagosians Demand Permanent Fire Trucks On Third Mainland Bridge
Seek Faster Emergency Response To Bridge Fire Incidents
Residents Blame Delayed Fire Response For Recurring Vehicle Losses

Residents and motorists in Lagos have called on the state government to strengthen emergency response measures on the Third Mainland Bridge following repeated cases of vehicles catching fire on the busy route.

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Eko Hot Blog reports that many commuters are demanding regular patrols by fire service trucks or the permanent deployment of firefighting vehicles at strategic points along the bridge to reduce damage whenever incidents occur.

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They also appealed to the government to complete the long-delayed Iyana Oworo fire service station to improve response time to emergencies around the area.

Findings revealed that between three and eight vehicles reportedly go up in flames on the bridge every month.

One of the recent incidents happened on February 2, 2026, when a commercial bus carrying goods caught fire near the University of Lagos waterfront, destroying several items.

Earlier on January 6, 2026, a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) vehicle was also gutted by fire near the Adekunle axis, leading to heavy traffic towards Iyana Oworo.

In June 2025, a vehicle belonging to musician Darey Art Alade and his wife was destroyed by fire on the bridge.

Many residents complained that firefighters often arrive after affected vehicles have already been completely burnt.

A motorist, Richard Okunlola, described the situation as alarming and called for standby fire trucks on both ends of the bridge.

Lagosians Demand Permanent Fire Trucks On Third Mainland Bridge — Uncompleted fire service station on Third Mainland Bridge.. PHOTO: ENIOLA DANIEL

“Vehicles catching fire on the Third Mainland Bridge happen too often. There should be fire trucks stationed at strategic points so they can respond immediately,” he said.

He added that he had personally witnessed several vehicles burn beyond recovery because emergency responders arrived late.

According to him, many fire outbreaks are linked to poor vehicle maintenance and electrical faults.

Another resident, Josiah Ebiam, urged the Lagos State Government to adopt proactive emergency measures similar to what is obtainable in major cities around the world.

“Lagos is a major commercial city. Fire trucks can be stationed at intervals, while emergency fire extinguishers can also be mounted on poles for quick access,” he said.

Ebiam warned that the constant reports of burning vehicles on one of Lagos’ busiest entry routes could affect the image of the state.

Responding to the concerns, the Head of Public Education for the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Amodu Shakiru, said the government was expanding emergency coverage through a new fire station being constructed in Yaba.

According to him, the new station would help improve response around the Third Mainland Bridge corridor.

He explained that fire trucks could not be permanently stationed on the bridge because there was no provision for such structures.

Shakiru also blamed many of the incidents on negligence and poor maintenance culture among motorists.

“Most of these incidents are caused by carelessness or electrical faults. Vehicle owners should ensure they have functional fire extinguishers,” he said.

He noted that the average response time to emergencies on the bridge is about seven minutes, but admitted that vehicles can already be badly damaged within that period.

On the abandoned Iyana Oworo fire station project, Shakiru said work was slowed down by the removal of fuel subsidy and rising construction costs, but assured residents that the facility would soon be completed.