Minister of Works, David Umahi has reopened the Independence Bridge in Lagos.
Addressing journalists yesterday in Lagos, Umahi said permanent work on the bridge will commence in three weeks.
The minister said the contractors worked overnight to ensure that the bridge is ready for use.
“When we open the bridge, by the special grace of God, I will be the first to attest to its integrity. I will be the first to pass.
“We need to be very grateful and thankful to God Almighty for his mercies. We worked all through the night to restore this. If you asked me how it happened, I would say it is by God’s grace and wisdom.
“The integrity of the bridge is 100 percent. What we are doing later is for long-term effect. But there is no problem with this repair.”
The closure of the bridge resulted in hours-long gridlock with commuters and motorists stranded on Wednesday in Victoria Island area .
On Monday, the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Olukorede Kesha, announced the closure of the bridge for essential maintenance and rehabilitation work.
Kesha added that the bridge would remain closed until the end of May.
Following a public outcry as a result of the closure, Umahi ordered the immediate reopening of the bridge on Thursday.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had apologised to residents for the gridlock experienced due to the rehabilitation of the bridge.
Sanwo-Olu advised residents to conduct their businesses via online platforms in the next two or three weeks to avoid the traffic congestion.
The governor said the repair was necessary for the city, as the bridge — which is one of the oldest in the country — had begun to fail.
