Umahi Announces Reopening of Lagos Independence Bridge after Repairs

Bennett Oghifo in Lagos and Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, yesterday announced that the failed section of the Independence Bridge, Lagos, which was closed for repairs on April 2, 2025, causing heavy traffic gridlock and untold hardship to commuters, has been fixed.
A statement in Abuja by the minister’s spokesman, Uchenna Orji, said the situation necessitated the visit of Umahi to Lagos, less than 24 hours after the incident.
In his speech at the opening of the bridge for traffic, the minister noted that the reason for the closure of the bridge was not for pleasure, but due a technical failure of the approach slab, which affected the strength and utility of the bridge.
He, however, expressed displeasure that the right procedure for the closure was not followed, and that it was the reason the public was taken unawares.
He said:  “So, the reason for the closure was not for pleasure. It was because it became very dangerous for commuters to use the place. But we didn’t do it in the right way.
” And now, we had a design for the project, and I’ve looked at the design that we intended to use by using God’s wisdom and grace and experience, and we have agreed to redesign the project. It’s going to be redesigned as one span in a bridge.”
The minister also rolled out a new policy direction on measures to follow before a federal road is closed nationwide. He stated that going forward, a feedback mechanism through stakeholders’ engagement would be a condition precedent before approval for closure of federal bridges and roads.
He mentioned among others that the person seeking such closure must state what is to be done, the technical problems and the technical solutions.
 “He will be able to put all these exposures to the public. So, we request comments from the public and tell them how long it is going to last. And so, with this feedback, everybody is in the know, and then we’ll be able to do that,” he added.
Earlier, Umahi had vowed that he won’t leave Lagos until the Independence Bridge, which had been closed due to repairs, causing serious traffic issues in parts of the city, was fixed.
He stated that the federal government will ensure compliance with the best construction methodologies, techniques and processes in all federal road construction projects across the country.
He expressed the displeasure of President Bola Tinubu over the hardship occasioned by the sudden closure of the bridge for emergency works, stressing it fell short of the standing practice of the Federal Ministry of Works.

While accepting the responsibility for the situation, Umahi apologised for the inconveniences the closure had caused the road users in Lagos.

He admonished all Federal Controllers of Works nationwide to adhere to the construction standards and never to close roads without approval sought and obtained from the minister of works.

Giving insight into the construction works going on under the current administration, the minister stated that over 260 critical federal road projects are currently going on nationwide in line with the administration’s agenda of stimulating sustainable economic growth through aggressive road infrastructure development.