Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has issued a public apology to commuters and residents who were caught in hours-long gridlock following the closure of the Independence Bridge on Wednesday. The closure, which affected traffic flow in Victoria Island and surrounding areas, was met with public outcry due to inadequate prior notice and poor traffic management.
The Governor made the apology during an on-the-spot assessment of the bridge on Thursday morning, where he acknowledged communication gaps and took full responsibility for the traffic chaos. He was accompanied by key state officials, including the Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, Commissioner for Information, Gbenga Omotoso, and Special Adviser on Transport, Sola Giwa.
“This was a case of everyone resuming work at once after the Eid-el-Fitr holiday, especially in the Central Business District,” Sanwo-Olu explained. “We should have communicated better. I take full responsibility for the discomfort caused. Communication is key to enforcement, and we will improve on that.”
Sanwo-Olu noted that although rehabilitation work on the bridge had commenced earlier, the full impact of the closure was only felt following the holiday, when traffic volumes surged.
He disclosed that the closure will last for about three weeks, and appealed to employers and workers whose physical presence on the Island is not critical to explore remote work options, as practiced during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“If you don’t need to be physically present on the Island, please consider virtual meetings and remote working tools. Let’s reduce the number of vehicles on the road,” he urged.
To mitigate further congestion, the Governor announced that the state would double the deployment of traffic personnel, especially officers of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), to control traffic and support motorists during the rehabilitation period.
“You will see twice the number of LASTMA officials out there, working late to ensure smooth traffic,” he said.
Responding to the recent directive by Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, ordering the immediate reopening of the bridge, Governor Sanwo-Olu maintained that the move is currently unrealistic, given the level of ongoing excavation work on the structure.
“The road is not safe for use right now. Excavation has already started, and reopening it immediately is not feasible,” he stated.
Sanwo-Olu assured residents that his administration is working to improve communication and planning around major infrastructure projects to avoid similar disruptions in the future.
