Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has apologized to residents affected by the severe traffic jams caused by ongoing repairs on the Independence Bridge.
The closure of the bridge for maintenance left thousands of commuters stuck in traffic from Wednesday evening to Thursday morning, with numerous videos and photos of the gridlock going viral on social media, which led to public criticism.
In response to the chaos, the Minister of Works, David Umahi, ordered the reopening of the bridge to help ease the traffic congestion.
While inspecting the progress of the repairs on Thursday, Governor Sanwo-Olu expressed regret over the inconvenience caused, acknowledging the necessity of the work to prevent a potential disaster.
However, he emphasized the need for improved communication with the public.
“I want to apologize to all Lagosians for the inconvenience caused over the last 24 hours. Though unfortunate, the ongoing work is essential to ensure the bridge’s long-term safety,” said Sanwo-Olu.
He also clarified that the repairs had been planned for several years and were meant to prevent a future catastrophe.
The Governor further encouraged residents to plan alternative routes or consider conducting business virtually for the next two to three weeks to help alleviate the strain on the city’s traffic.
Sanwo-Olu made these remarks during his visit to the site, accompanied by his deputy, Obafemi Hamzat, and other state officials, where they were briefed by the construction team handling the project.
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