Works Minister Umahi reopens Lagos’s Independence Bridge, vows permanent fix

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has reopened the Independence Bridge in Lagos following its temporary closure for maintenance, which triggered massive gridlock and public frustration across the city.

Speaking at the site on Friday, Umahi assured residents that full repair work on the bridge would commence within the next three weeks. He acknowledged the inconvenience caused by the closure and apologized for the disruption.

For two days, commuters faced severe traffic congestion, with adjoining roads brought to a standstill. Social media users took to X (formerly Twitter) to express frustration over poor traffic management, criticizing the absence of LASTMA, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and other traffic control agencies.

Umahi noted that the ministry has taken lessons from the incident and pledged improved planning for future infrastructure interventions.