Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has apologised to residents over the massive gridlock caused by the ongoing repair works on the Independence Bridge linking Bonny Camp to Victoria Island, assuring that rehabilitation efforts will continue despite the temporary inconvenience, Okay.ng reports.
The apology comes after commuters were stranded for several hours on April 2, following the partial closure of the bridge for maintenance. The situation triggered widespread complaints from road users and residents in the affected areas.
Addressing journalists during an on-site inspection of the bridge on Thursday, Governor Sanwo-Olu acknowledged the hardship experienced by Lagosians and said the state government takes full responsibility for the disruption.
“First, I think what is appropriate is to tender an apology to all our citizens and to all Lagosians for the very difficult and heinous traffic we experienced in the last 24 hours within the city and the Island of Lagos,” the governor said.
“There is never a best time to solve a difficult problem like this. Any time you do it, there would be discomfort. Let’s bite the bullet and come out of this better.”
Sanwo-Olu clarified that the bridge — one of the oldest in the country — had shown signs of structural deterioration and required urgent intervention to prevent a future disaster.
“This contract was signed over three years ago; our duty is to preserve the integrity of the Independence Bridge. It is all to avert a future disaster waiting to happen,” he added.
Earlier, the Minister of Works, David Umahi, had ordered the temporary reopening of the bridge to ease traffic, but Sanwo-Olu has now confirmed that the repairs will resume with coordinated traffic management and diversions.
The governor also issued a travel advisory, urging Lagosians to avoid unnecessary movement into Victoria Island over the next few weeks and to embrace remote work where possible.
“If you don’t have business to do in Victoria Island in the next two to three weeks, conduct your business via social media, telephone, Zoom meetings, online meetings. Let’s plan ahead,” he said.
Sanwo-Olu further revealed that the state government has mobilised additional traffic officers from the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) to manage the expected congestion during the repair period.
He also warned residents against driving against traffic and reckless driving, calling for patience and understanding as the state prioritises long-term infrastructure safety.
