The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has tendered a public apology to residents of Lagos and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the disruption caused by the sudden and unauthorised closure of the Independence Bridge in Lagos.
The closure, which led to heavy traffic congestion and widespread commuter frustration, was implemented for emergency repair works without the knowledge or approval of the minister.
Umahi made the apology on Thursday, April 3, 2025, during an inspection tour of the bridge. He expressed deep concern over the decision to shut down such a critical infrastructure without due process, describing the move as regrettable and avoidable.
“Unfortunately, when the bridge was to be closed, I was not informed. It is very unfortunate because, for a bridge to be closed—especially in a place like Lagos—it has been the tradition that I, as the Minister of Works, must be briefed and must give the go-ahead,” Umahi said. “We should have evaluated the impact of such a closure, even in an emergency situation. A proper assessment would have allowed us to consider a less disruptive approach.”
The minister explained that the bridge was closed to address a collapsed retaining wall, which posed a safety concern. However, he emphasized that the decision to proceed without his approval was a breach of protocol. Umahi announced that disciplinary actions would be taken against the officials responsible for this oversight, particularly those within the Ministry of Works who bypassed standard procedures.
“I want to use this opportunity to send a strong warning to all controllers and engineers across the country. No road or bridge should ever be closed without due clearance through the office of the Permanent Secretary, who is to seek my direct approval. Such actions must follow protocol to prevent unnecessary hardship to the public,” he stated firmly.
Despite not authorising the closure, Umahi took full responsibility for the incident, stating that as the minister, every action taken by staff under the ministry ultimately falls on him. “I take responsibility for it, even though I did not authorise it. As the head of the Ministry of Works, every action taken by my staff reflects on me,” he noted.
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He went on to commend the Lagos State Government for its efforts in managing traffic during the unexpected closure and highlighted the importance of inter-agency coordination in such situations. He reiterated that the closure, which caused massive gridlocks across parts of Lagos, could have been handled more efficiently.
“If we were to approach this the right way, we would have deployed an alternative method that didn’t necessitate a full closure. Even if a total shutdown was needed, it would have been planned to occur over the weekend—Friday through Sunday—with immediate remedial work carried out to limit the disruption,” he explained.
Umahi assured Lagosians that efforts were now underway to temporarily restore the bridge, promising that by Sunday, April 6, the Independence Bridge would be fully reopened to traffic. He revealed that work would continue around the clock until the bridge is operational.
“We are now working to restore the bridge temporarily within the next three days. By Sunday, the bridge will be reopened. I will personally remain on site until that happens. We will work day and night to meet this goal,” Umahi pledged.
The minister concluded by announcing that a two-week assessment would follow to determine a long-term, permanent solution to the structural issues. He reiterated his commitment to ensuring the safety of road users while minimizing disruptions during future repair projects.
“I want Nigerians to know that we are working with their best interests at heart. We will not allow this kind of situation to repeat itself,” he added.
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