David Umahi, the Minister of Works, announced the reopening of the Independence Bridge in Lagos during a press conference on Friday.
Gatekeepers News reports that Umahi stated that permanent maintenance work on the bridge is scheduled to begin in three weeks. Umahi highlighted that the contractors worked diligently overnight to ensure the bridge was ready for public use.
“When we open the bridge, by the special grace of God, I will be first to attest to the integrity of the bridge. I will be the first to pass,” Umahi said.
“We need to be very grateful and thankful to God Almighty for His mercies. We worked all through the night to restore this. If you asked me how it happened, I would say it is by God’s Grace and wisdom.
“The integrity of the bridge is 100 percent. What we are doing later is for a long-term effect. But there is no problem with this repair.”
The closure of the bridge resulted in hours-long gridlock with commuters and motorists stranded on Wednesday in the Victoria Island area of Lagos.
Prior to this reopening, Olukorede Kesha, the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, had indicated that the bridge would be closed for essential maintenance and rehabilitation until the end of May. The decision to close the bridge faced significant public backlash, prompting Umahi to order its immediate reopening.
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu issued an apology to residents for the traffic congestion caused by the bridge’s rehabilitation.
He recommended that during the next two to three weeks, residents utilize online platforms for their business activities to mitigate the impact of the expected traffic congestion.
The governor emphasised the necessity of the repairs, stating that the bridge, one of the oldest in the country, was beginning to show signs of deterioration.
