Less than 24 hours after Lagos Island was grounded to a halt due to repairs of the Independence Bridge, the Minister of Works, David Umahi, yesterday apologised for the discomfort.
Umahi said the decision to close the bridge was an error and solely made by the Federal Controller of Works, Lagos, Mrs Olukorede Kesha.
The minister had earlier directed the reopening of the bridge, which was temporarily closed for rehabilitation.
His words: “I am here as directed by the President. The president watched the agony Lagosians went through on Wednesday due to the closure of the bridge. The president was highly displeased even though the bridge was due for repair.
“We designed the rehabilitation, but unfortunately, I was not informed when the bridge was to be closed. The Controller did that on her own.
“It’s unfortunate because for a bridge to be closed, I should be informed as the minister, and we should have studied the implications of it even though it’s an emergency.
“We would have deployed emergency evacuation due to the implications of closing the bridge. I will use this opportunity to warn all controllers and engineers all over the country never to close the roads or any bridge without informing the Permanent Secretary, who will seek permission from the minister.
“There will be consequences and disciplinary action for this. I take responsibility for this even though I did not order it, but I take responsibility for any actions of any staff of the Ministry of Works.”
He said the ministry would not have done a total closure and had directed that the bridge be reopened within the next three days.
“This bridge will be opened on Sunday, and we will look at the settlement after two weeks and then build a permanent structure. I am not going until the bridge is restored on Sunday.”
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who also visited the area yesterday, however, asked Lagosians to think outside the box.
“Work remotely to ease the traffic and prevent all of us from coming out. We are thinking of another alternative. We are going to break many things but we don’t know if that would be fully effective. We will consider the effect of counter-flow in the next two days.
“I can assure you that there will be officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) to work just like what we did in November and December 2024.”
“I want to appeal to our citizens that it’s not a time to drive recklessly and against traffic. Citizens have the responsibility to obey traffic regulations,” he said.
