Senator David Umahi, Minister of Works, has ordered the immediate reopening of Lagos’ Independence Bridge, reversing a planned two-month closure for repairs.
The decision was made in response to severe traffic congestion and public outcry following the bridge’s initial shutdown earlier in the week.
The bridge connecting key areas on Victoria Island was initially set for repairs from April 1 to the end of May 2025, but its sudden closure caused massive gridlock, paralyzing major routes like Ahmadu Bello Way, Adeja Odeku, and the Marina-bound corridor, leading to extended travel times and traffic congestion from Lekja to the mainland via Falomo Bridge, prompting Lagos State’s Federal Controller of Works, Mrs. Olukorede Kesha, to justify the closure for structural maintenance, but the Federal Ministry of Works later announced a revised repair schedule to minimize public inconvenience.
Kesha apologized for the distress caused by the closure and promised residents that alternative arrangements would be made to ensure essential maintenance is carried out with minimal disruption. A revised maintenance plan is expected to be announced by authorities in the coming weeks.
