₦airaland Forum

Federal Ministry of Works, Lagos

PRESS RELEASE ON IMMEDIATE REOPENING OF INDEPENDENCE BRIDGE (AHMADU BELLO WAY-MARINA BOUND).

Date: April 2nd, 2025

The Honorable Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi has directed the immediate reopening of the Independence Bridge in Lagos to vehicular traffic.

This directive follows the earlier closure of the bridge for planned maintenance and rehabilitation works.

Efforts are currently ongoing to ensure palliative works are carried out on the already opened bridge to make it motorable .

The Ministry hereby express regret for the inconvenience caused to the motoring public by the closure and appealed for their understanding and cooperation.

The Federal Ministry of Works clarified that the necessary repair works on the bridge would be carried out at a later time.

E-signed
Engr. (Mrs.) O. I. Kesha
Federal Controller of Works, Lagos

The state government has commenced repair and maintenance of the Independence Bridge in Lagos on April 1, with work due to continue until May 2025. pic.twitter.com/48C6YF3Dfj

— News Central TV (@NewsCentralTV) April 2, 2025

JUST IN: Umahi orders opening of Independence bridge after Lagos traffic chaos

By Damilola Aina
2nd April 2025

The Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, has directed the immediate reopening of the Independence Bridge located on Victoria Island, Lagos.

The minister issued the directive on Wednesday following the massive traffic gridlock that enveloped the Ikoyi area of Lagos.

The Federal Controller of Works, Lagos, Mrs Olukorede Kesha, confirmed the latest development in a telephone conversation with our correspondent on Wednesday night.

The controller stated that her team is already working to implement remedial measures to reopen the bridge for vehicular traffic, as parts of the bridge have already been damaged.

She was, however, uncertain if commuters would be able to use the bridge tomorrow but assured that her team is working overnight to ease vehicular movement.

She said, “Yes, that is true. The minister has directed me to open it. But as it is we are trying to see how we can do remedial measures so that we can open the bridge for vehicular movement because we have already broken parts of the bridge.

“We are still unsure if commuters will be able to use it tomorrow. But we are currently working overnight to do some remedial work. We are working on that. The destruction had gone a bit far, but all hands are on deck to, hopefully by tomorrow, open the bridge to traffic.”

Recall that the federal government had announced plans to close the Independence Bridge (Marina bound) in Lagos State for essential maintenance and rehabilitation works. It said the bridge would remain closed until the end of May 2025.

carl90:
So Lekki is on the mainland of Lagos ?
How long have you been staying in Lagos ?

carl90:
The headline is misleading .
"Huge Traffic Jams In The Islands Of Lagos "

I live and work in the Mainland of Lagos .

Left home on time, got home from work on time today.

My view of the admiralty way/ Ikoyi link bridge traffic from @Cafeonenig Lekki.

If you don’t have to go home now, watch a movie, read a book, jist, chill with your friends and go home when people are sleeping.

Take it easy out there (esp mainlanders)🤗



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gK6Ggiev0PA?si=yxtXtIubYMKIy42e

Lagos traffic is unpredictable sometimes
Cos tell me why I left the house 8am and I got to work 11am

Like journey of 45 minutes and I spent almost 3 hours from Obalende to Lekki
Hmmmm just Lekki here 😫

Anyways just stay in your house if you stay in Lagos cos nothing for you

This Lagos traffic 😫 I got up at 8am and recorded a mix for radio, entered traffic at 9:45am for a 10 minute drive to the station, 3 hours later we still haven’t made it 😂

Ikoyi and Victoria Island is on lock down due to road renovation/Construction. Now rain has started. 3 hours and counting. People are walking! We need solution to this please. We can't be spending productive time in #Traffic #lagos

I still can’t believe I trekked from Ikoyi to VI earlier today and about to board 4000 naira bus to Ajah cuz nothing will make me enter that traffic to the mainland.. Lagos is really not a real place.

Lagos traffic said ‘walk, my child.’ And I had no choice🥲🤣

Started my journey from Eko Hotel… Where are you trekking from?

@Gidi_Traffic @followlastma
Roads are blocked from Ikoyi, Victoria Island to Lekki/Epe expressway...
What is happening??🤔
Its really bad!!

Why is the island blocked

Tinubu sneak enter lagos for night when i no know.

Very weird.

The govt has to reconsider this bridge closure.

Its utter choas on the island today.

How can the govt close a major access road in and out of the island with no alternatives.

Traffic was from bonny camp to Ikate this morning

Like why can't you do things with sense.

Except that bridge is reopened it's going to be like this for fhe next one month.

Almost 5 hours in traffic burnt all my expensive fuel

Lagos state government thank you ooo

Couldn’t get to work

My day messed up

Weldone ooo

What the hell is happening in Lagos, VI, Falomo @followlastma

The heavy gridlock is as a result of the Closure McWen bridge(Independent bridge).

Today is different please. How does that affect awolowo road. I mean, it's a standstill right now. Passengers are stranded

Most of the Motorists could not access Bonny camp and McWen bridge.

They have been making use of the alternative routes which Awolowo road is one of them.

Only God knows what is causing this crazy traffic in lagos

Independence Bridge repair, Bonny Camp to Onikan closed.

STATEHOUSE PRESS STATEMENT

PRESIDENT TINUBU TO EMBARK ON WORKING VISIT TO PARIS

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will depart for Paris, France, today on a short working visit.

During the visit, the President will appraise his administration's midterm performance and assess key milestones.

He will also use the retreat to review the progress of ongoing reforms and engage in strategic planning ahead of his administration's second anniversary.

This period of reflection will inform plans to deepen ongoing reforms and accelerate national development priorities in the coming year.

Recent economic strides reinforce the President's commitment to these efforts, as evidenced by the Central Bank of Nigeria reporting a significant increase in net foreign exchange reserves to $23.11 billion—a testament to the administration's fiscal reforms since 2023 when net reserves were $3.99 billion.

While away, President Tinubu will remain fully engaged with his team and continue to oversee governance activities.

He will return to Nigeria in about a fortnight.

Bayo Onanuga

Special Adviser to the President

(Information & Strategy)