Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos State, has apologised to the residents of the sprawling city for the harrowing experience arising from severe traffic situation they went through as a result of the closure of Independence Bridge.
The governor, who visited the closed bridge Thursday morning, blamed what happened on poor communication by relevant authorities of Lagos State, insisting however that the bridge will remain closed for repairs due to security concerns.
He disclosed that the decision to fix the bridge by Buildwell Construction Company had been on for over three years, adding that it was to prevent a disaster waiting to happen.
Read also: Lagos gridlock worsens as Independence Bridge stays shut despite FG’s reopening order
The governor appealed for public patience, assuring that adequate measures were being put in place to ease traffic congestion.
“Because of inadequate communication, and I take full responsibility, people were not adequately informed. Communication is key; it helps people to plan alternative routes and make better decisions,” he noted.
Sanwo-Olu urged residents to adjust their commuting habits while repairs are ongoing, advising that if a resident does not have urgent business on Victoria Island in the next two to three weeks, he should consider working from home, using telephone or Zoom meetings, and planning ahead.
He assured that more Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) officials will be deployed to manage traffic, working late into the night to ensure smoother movement.
The governor countered David Umahi, minister of works’ directive to reopen the bridge, citing the danger of an imminent disaster if the repairs were not completed.
Read also: Independence Bridge repair: LASTMA lists alternative routes amid gridlock
“With all due respect to the minister, we are the ones on ground. This bridge has had structural issues for over three years. If we attempt to reopen it now, without completing the repairs, it could collapse, leading to a major disaster,” noted.
He noted further that significant excavation work has already been done on the bridge which, he said, makes an immediate reopening impossible. “A bridge is not a place where you can just pour sand and expect vehicles to pass over it. If it caves in and cars plunge into the water, the same government will be blamed,” he said.
Umahi had, in a late-night statement on Wednesday, ordered the reopening of the bridge, saying that the repair work would resume at a later date. The action was his reaction to the terrible commuting experience the bridge closure caused Lagosians.
