Minister of Works Addresses Traffic Chaos Caused by Independence Bridge Closure

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has spoken out about the recent closure of the Independence Bridge in Lagos, which has since led to significant traffic congestion in the city. This closure was ordered unilaterally by the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Mrs. Olukorede Keisha, reportedly without the Minister’s approval.

Keisha had announced the bridge’s closure (Marina-bound) on April 1 for essential maintenance and rehabilitation work. However, this decision resulted in severe gridlock on Wednesday, leaving many motorists and commuters stuck in traffic for hours. Reports noted that informal transport fares surged from ₦800 to ₦2,000 for journeys from CMS to Lekki Phase 1 due to the delays.

Former BBNaija contestant JMK shared her frustration on social media, revealing she spent over eight hours in traffic: “I’ve never experienced traffic like this in my life. Landed in Lagos at 4 PM… it’s 1:20 AM, and I’m STILL not home… 8 HOURS in traffic? This city is actually wild.”

In response to the public outcry over the traffic chaos, Minister Umahi ordered the immediate reopening of the bridge. During a site visit on Thursday, he stated that he had not been informed of the closure beforehand and emphasized the need for such decisions to be discussed at the ministerial level before implementation. He took responsibility for the oversight and warned that disciplinary action would be taken against Keisha for her unilateral decision.

“I was not informed. The controller did that on her own, and it’s very unfortunate,” Umahi remarked. “For a bridge to be closed, especially in Lagos, I should be informed as the minister. We should also have studied the implications of it, even in emergency situations.” He stressed that no bridge closure should occur without prior approval from the Permanent Secretary and the Minister of Works.

Umahi also issued a public apology to Lagos residents and President Bola Tinubu for the inconveniences caused by the closure.

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who inspected the site alongside Umahi, acknowledged the government’s full responsibility for the traffic disruption but insisted that the necessary repair work must proceed. He noted that the Independence Bridge is one of the oldest in the country and had begun to deteriorate, posing potential safety risks.

Governor Sanwo-Olu expressed empathy toward residents affected by the nightmarish traffic and assured them that there is never a perfect time to handle road repairs. He stated, “I tender my apology to our citizens for the difficult traffic experienced in the last 24 hours within the city and on the Island of Lagos. Any time you do it, there will be discomfort; let’s bite the bullet and come out of this better.”

He urged residents to support the rehabilitation efforts, reminding them that the project had been planned years in advance, emphasizing the importance of preserving the integrity of the bridge. The repair work is expected to last three weeks, during which traffic will be managed and diverted.

Sanwo-Olu encouraged residents to conduct their business remotely if possible: “If you don’t have business to do in Victoria Island in the next two to three weeks, please consider using social media or remote meetings. Let’s plan ahead.”

He assured the public that many officers from the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) would be deployed to the area to help manage the congestion during this period.