Posted by Samuel on Thu 03rd Apr, 2025 - tori.ng
On Wednesday, Lagos residents were stranded due to heavy traffic, reportedly caused by ongoing construction in the Lagos Island axis and the closure of the Independence Bridge.
Following a massive traffic jam on Victoria Island, Lagos State, on Wednesday, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has taken responsibility for the incident.
Commenting on the situation, Sanwo-Olu said, "Communication is enforcement. You have to continue before people make alternate plans to use other roads and corridors. One of the things I will also be advising a lot of our citizens is that this kind of thing has happened in another form.
“Let's think out of the box. Let us now know that if you don't have business to do in Victoria Island in the next two to three weeks, conduct your business via social media, telephones, Zoom meetings, and online meetings. Plan ahead so that if you do not need to visit someone here, you do not have to come.
"If you do not have a meeting that requires your physical presence, think out of the box. We did that during COVID-19. You can have restricted movements for a couple of weeks, plan your journey time, and consider alternative routes.
“Ensure that you can communicate and work from home to ease traffic, so we can all move more freely. If you do not need to go out at 7 o’clock, wait until 10 o’clock. Let those who must leave at 7 o’clock go first and defer your time.
"Let the people who need to come out by 7 o’clock do so. If you do not need to, defer your time until 10 a.m. You can see that the approach from Victoria Island to Marina is free—there is no movement at all. We are also considering counterflow, using all of the traffic information we already have. One thing I want to assure you is that you will see a lot of LASTMA officers on the road. We are calling them in from other parts of the city so they can be present here."
On Wednesday, Lagos residents were stranded due to heavy traffic, reportedly caused by ongoing construction in the Lagos Island axis and the closure of the Independence Bridge.
The traffic congestion affected the Third Mainland Bridge axis in different segments and also extended along the Lagos-Ikorodu Road.
Following the situation, the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, directed the immediate reopening of the Independence Bridge on Victoria Island, Lagos.
The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Mrs. Olukorede Kesha, said in a statement: "The Ministry expressed regret for the inconvenience caused to the motoring public by the closure and appealed for their understanding and cooperation.
"The Federal Ministry of Works clarified that the necessary repair works on the bridge would be carried out at a later time."