By Ayomide Otitoju
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has taken full responsibility for the severe traffic congestion experienced on Wednesday following the closure of the Independence Bridge in Victoria Island. The Governor issued an apology to motorists and acknowledged lapses in public communication and planning that contributed to the disruption.
During an on-the-spot assessment of the site on Thursday morning, Governor Sanwo-Olu was accompanied by the Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi; the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso; and the Special Adviser on Transport, Sola Giwa, among other state officials. He attributed the heavy traffic to the mass return of workers after the Eid-el-Fitr holiday, exacerbated by the closure of the bridge.
“This was a case of everyone resuming work at the same time after a long weekend. The Island is the Central Business District, and unfortunately, inadequate communication led to the congestion. I take full responsibility,” the Governor stated.
Sanwo-Olu emphasized the need for improved communication to help motorists plan alternative routes, noting that work on the bridge had already commenced before the full closure. He announced that the bridge would remain closed for approximately three weeks and urged workers whose presence on the Island is not essential to consider remote work arrangements, similar to those implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“For those who don’t need to be physically present on the Island in the next two to three weeks, I encourage you to utilize virtual meetings and plan ahead to reduce traffic pressure. This is not the time for reckless driving or traffic violations—patience is key,” he advised.
To mitigate the impact of the closure, the Governor assured that additional traffic enforcement officers and security personnel would be deployed to manage congestion and ensure the safety of motorists.
“You will see twice the number of LASTMA officers on duty, working late into the night to keep traffic moving,” he said.
Addressing the directive from the Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, for the immediate reopening of the bridge, Sanwo-Olu explained that the order might not be feasible due to ongoing excavation work that has rendered the route impassable.
