Minister of Works, David Umahi, has vowed that the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Mrs Olukorede Keisha, who unilaterally ordered closure of the Independence Bridge which led to a gridlock in the metropolis on Wednesday, will be punished.
Kesha had announced the closure of the Independence Bridge (Marina bound) effective from April 1 for essential maintenance and rehabilitation works.
On Wednesday, the closure led to a traffic logjam, resulting in many motorists and commuters spending several hours in the traffic logjam.
The traffic jam also disrupted informal public transport, resulting in the skyrocketing of fares from N800 to N2,000 for CMS to Lekki Phase 1.
A former BBNaija housemate, JMK, lamented online how she spent over eight hours in the gridlock.
“I’ve never experienced traffic like this in my life. Landed in Lagos at 4pm… it’s 1:20am and I’m STILL not home. From the airport to my house! 8 HOURS in traffic? This city is actually wild. Lagos will humble you with no warning,” she posted.
But following public outcry, Umahi ordered the immediate reopening of the bridge.
Speaking to journalists during a visit to the site on Thursday, the Minister said that he was unaware of the closure of the Independence Bridge.
He said Keisha took the decision without his approval, adding that said such a decision, especially in a city like Lagos, should have been discussed at the ministerial level before execution.
The Minister, who accepted responsibility for the situation, vowed to take a disciplinary action against Keisha for her actions.
Umahi said, “I was not informed. The controller did that on her own, and it’s very unfortunate. Because for a bridge to be closed, especially in Lagos, as, you know, as it has been the tradition, I should be informed as the minister. And we should also have studied the implications of it, even though it’s an emergency situation. We would have deployed an emergency evaluation of the implications of closing the bridge.
“Was there any other thing we would have done? And then why do we take time to do the proper work?
“And so I use the opportunity to warn all controllers and engineers all over the country. Never you close the route or close any bridge without going through the Permanent Secretary, who will seek permission from the Honourable Minister of Works. And so there will be consequences, disciplinary action for this.”
The Minister also issued a public apology to Lagos residents and President Bola Tinubu for the disruptions caused by the closure.
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who also inspected the site, said the government takes full responsibility for the grindlock caused repair works.
But Sanwo-Olu said work must continue in the area due to its necessity.
He said the repair is for the good of the city, as the bridge — which is one of the oldest in the country — had begun to fail.
The Governor urged residents to support the state government, saying there is never a good time to carry out road repairs.
Sanwo-Olu said, “First, I think what is appropriate is to tender apology to all our citizens and to all Lagosians for a very difficult heinous traffic that we experienced in the last 24 hours within the city and the Island of Lagos.
“There is never a best time to solve a difficult problem like this. Any time you do it, there would be discomfort. Let’s bite the bullet and come out of this better.
“I think the apology is important so that we can take full responsibility as government both at the national and subnational level, for taking our citizens through an unfortunate incident.
“It was all for a good cause, it is all to avert future disaster waiting to happen. You know how life is — there is never a best time for you to do all you want to do, there will always be challenges even if you think it is the best time.
“This contract has been signed over three years ago; our duty is to preserve the integrity of the Independence Bridge — which is like one of the oldest bridges in the country.”
The governor said that traffic will be managed and diverted during the rehabilitation, spanning three weeks.
Sanwo-Olu also asked residents along the route to conduct their businesses remotely.
He added, “If you don’t have business to do in Victoria Island in the next two to three weeks, conduct your business via social media, telephone, zoom meetings, online meetings, let’s plan ahead.
“If you don’t need to come and visit somebody here, you don’t have to come.
“You are going to see a lot of LASTMA officers on the road, we are calling them from other parts of the city to come here.”
