Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has issued an apology to Lagosians who were stranded in hours-long traffic due to ongoing repairs at the Independence Bridge.
The Telegraph reports that the closure of the bridge for repairs caused significant congestion, leaving thousands of commuters stuck in traffic from Wednesday evening until early Thursday. Videos and photos of the gridlock quickly went viral on social media, sparking public backlash.
In response, the Minister of Works, David Umahi, ordered the reopening of the bridge to alleviate the traffic chaos.
During a visit to inspect the bridge’s progress on Thursday, Governor Sanwo-Olu expressed regret for the inconvenience caused, emphasizing that the repairs were essential to prevent a potential disaster. He acknowledged the need for better communication with the public regarding the situation.
“I want to begin by offering a sincere apology to all Lagosians for the very difficult and frustrating experience we had over the past 24 hours, particularly in the Lagos Island area,” the governor said. “This apology is important because we take full responsibility for the unfortunate incident. Although the situation was challenging, it was necessary to prevent a much bigger disaster.”
Sanwo-Olu admitted the difficulties commuters faced but stressed that the repair work was in the best interest of Lagos residents.
“The repairs are for a good cause—to prevent a future disaster. There is never a perfect time to carry out such work, and challenges will arise no matter when it is done,” he continued. “This contract was signed over three years ago, and our priority is to preserve the integrity of the Independence Bridge, one of the oldest in the country.”
The governor urged residents to plan their movements accordingly due to the ongoing repairs. “If you don’t have urgent business in Victoria Island over the next two to three weeks, consider conducting your affairs via social media, phone, or online meetings,” he advised. “If it’s not absolutely necessary to visit someone, please reconsider your travel.”
Sanwo-Olu was accompanied by his deputy, Obafemi Hamzat, and other government officials during the inspection. They were received by representatives from Buildwell Construction, the company handling the repair project.
