The Federal Ministry of Works has ordered the immediate reopening of the Independence Bridge in Lagos after a severe traffic gridlock left millions of commuters stranded for hours on Wednesday.
In an official statement, the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Engr. (Mrs.) O. I. Kesha, confirmed that the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, had given the directive to allow vehicular movement on the bridge once again.
The bridge had been closed earlier for planned maintenance and rehabilitation works, but the unexpected disruption to traffic flow prompted the government to reconsider the timing of the repairs.
“Efforts are currently ongoing to ensure palliative works are carried out on the already opened bridge to make it motorable,” the statement read.
The Ministry expressed regret for the inconvenience caused to motorists and appealed for patience and cooperation as plans are made to carry out the necessary repair work at a later date.
The reopening of the Independence Bridge is expected to bring much-needed relief to commuters who had been caught in hours-long delays following the closure. Authorities assure that while full rehabilitation will be rescheduled, measures will be put in place to minimize future disruptions.
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The Honorable Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has directed the immediate reopening of the Independence Bridge in Lagos to vehicular traffic.
This decision follows the initial closure of the bridge for maintenance and rehabilitation works.
Efforts are currently underway to implement temporary repairs on the reopened bridge to ensure smooth passage for road users.
The Ministry sincerely apologizes for the inconvenience caused by the temporary closure and appreciates the public’s understanding and cooperation.
It is also assured that full repair works will be undertaken at a more convenient time to mitigate disruptions.