Minister Reopens Independence Bridge, Announces Reforms In Road Closure Protocol.
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has officially reopened the Independence Bridge in Lagos following emergency repair works prompted by structural failure on one of its approach slabs.
Speaking during the reopening ceremony on Friday, the minister explained that the failure was caused by a faulty design, where the approach slab was constructed as a cantilever—an engineering misstep that ultimately led to its collapse. “It’s not supposed to be a cantilever. What we had was a free-standing approach slab, which is incorrect. Every approach slab must have at least one end fixed,” Umahi stated.
He further disclosed that the slab collapsed when the sand fill beneath it eroded, compromising its structural integrity and endangering road users. Calling it an emergency, Umahi admitted that proper protocols were not followed in notifying the public of the closure. “The mistake that the controller, Olukorede Kesha, made was that she did not notify us. We also didn’t adequately inform Lagosians of the alternative routes,” he added.
In light of this, the minister announced that the Federal Government would introduce a standardised national procedure for road and bridge closures to prevent similar lapses in the future. According to him, “Going forward, no road or bridge in Nigeria will be closed without a clearly defined process. Controllers must submit drone surveys, state the nature of the technical problem and solution, propose alternative routes, and publish this information to the public.”
Umahi also revealed that the bridge will undergo a complete redesign to ensure its long-term stability. The project will be reconfigured as a one-span bridge, a move intended to eliminate lateral head pressure on the abutment and address uncertainties such as piling depth.
Commenting on the condition of other major bridges in Lagos—including the Third Mainland, Carter, and Iddo bridges—the minister warned that they rely on skin-friction piling, which is dependent on surrounding sand for support. “Any scouring or sand excavation puts the piles at risk,” he noted, adding that studies are ongoing to guide necessary reinforcement work.
Permanent construction on the Independence Bridge is expected to begin in three weeks, once the integrity of underground utilities has been confirmed. Umahi outlined a phased construction plan to minimise disruptions, with each phase scheduled to last about 21 days.
Future roadworks, he said, would be carried out with public convenience in mind—potentially limiting activities to weekends or night hours. The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) will be engaged in overseeing traffic flow during the reconstruction.
“This is not just about engineering; it’s about communication, safety, and accountability. We owe it to Nigerians to do better,” Umahi concluded.
