FG Reopens Independence Bridge in Lagos After Heavy Gridlock

The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has ordered the immediate reopening of Lagos’ Independence Bridge to vehicles following a temporary closure for maintenance. 

Mrs. Olukorede Kesha, Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, explained that the shutdown was part of scheduled rehabilitation efforts. She apologized for any inconvenience and urged motorists for patience and cooperation. 

The Federal Ministry of Works confirmed that further repairs on the bridge will be conducted at a later date.

Indeed, motorists on Lagos Island on Wednesday faced severe gridlock for hours due to the closure of the Independence/Mekwen Bridge (inbound Marina/CMS route) for repairs. The rehabilitation is scheduled to last for two months.

Earlier, the Federal Government had announced that the Independence Bridge (Marina bound) would be closed starting April 1 for essential maintenance, with completion expected by the end of May 2025.

The Federal Controller of Works, Lagos, Mrs. Olukorede Kesha, confirmed the closure, stating that it would affect traffic from Ahmadu Bello Way and Adeola Odeku towards Marina, Eko Bridge, and Onikan by Zone 2.

She advised motorists to plan their journeys accordingly and use alternative routes to minimize congestion. Kesha apologized for any inconvenience and thanked the public for their cooperation in ensuring road safety and stability.

The Lagos State Government had also earlier issued a travel advisory on March 15, 2025, alerting residents to the planned closure and its expected impact. The Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, urged motorists traveling outward from the Island to use the designated alternative routes.

Following the closure, motorists heading to the Mainland faced significant delays on Wednesday, with heavy congestion along alternative routes. While the initial closure on April 1 coincided with the Ed-el-Fitr public holiday and had minimal traffic impact, Wednesday saw severe bottlenecks stretching from Lekki through Victoria Island to Falomo Bridge and beyond.

Areas around Victoria Island, including Falomo, Law School, Ahmadu Bello Way, and the former Old Bar Beach, experienced long queues as motorists struggled to exit the Island.