Independence Bridge Closure: Lagos Gridlock Persists Despite Reopening Order

The closure of Independence Bridge in Lagos has continued to wreak havoc on the city’s traffic, despite the Federal Government’s directive to reopen the bridge.

The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, had ordered the reopening on Wednesday, but as of Thursday morning, the bridge remained closed, and traffic chaos persisted.

The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Mrs. Olukorede Kesha, explained that rehabilitation work is still ongoing, particularly on a section of the bridge that requires urgent repairs. The bridge’s closure, which began on April 1, 2025, is scheduled to last until the end of May.

Kesha advised motorists to use alternative routes to avoid congestion, saying, “The closure affects traffic traveling from Ahmadu Bello Way and Adeola Odeku towards Marina, Eko Bridge, and Onikan.”

Many motorists and commuters spent hours trapped in gridlock, with some forced to sleep on the road or in their offices.

However, the Lagos State Government has advised motorists without urgent business on the Island to avoid the Independence Bridge area and provided alternative routes:

Victoria Island Route: Use Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue, Akin Adesola Street, Falomo Roundabout, and Obafemi Awolowo Road.

Third Mainland Bridge Route: Follow Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue, Akin Adesola Street, Alfred Rewane Road, Osborne Road, and Ring Road.

Inner Marina and CMS Route: Take Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue, Akin Adesola Street, Falomo Roundabout, Obafemi Awolowo Road, and J.K. Randle Road.

According to VANGUARD report, Motorists caught in the gridlock expressed frustration over the severe delays and lack of visible traffic enforcement. One Akinwale Odebiyi said, “I spent six hours from Ojodu Berger to Victoria Island in the morning and another five hours back. There were no LASTMA officials to manage the chaos.”

VANGUARD