The Federal Government has officially declared the recent repairs on the Independence Bridge in Lagos permanent, assuring residents that the structure is now stable and safe for use.
Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, made the announcement on Wednesday during an inspection of the bridge — three weeks after it was reopened to traffic on April 5.
“We are here exactly three weeks later, as promised. The controller of works and Buildwell have confirmed no single deflection, and I can attest to that,” Umahi said. “Therefore, I declare that the work we did, through God’s grace and wisdom, is now permanent.”
The minister said assessments by officials of the Ministry of Works and Buildwell, the contractor in charge of the project, revealed that the repaired section of the bridge had held up well, with no signs of structural movement.
While the main structure is now deemed safe, Umahi noted that resurfacing of the bridge’s carriageways would still be undertaken and that the task had been incorporated into the existing contract with Buildwell.
He extended his appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for his swift directive to intervene in the bridge failure, which caused significant disruption for Lagos commuters.
He also commended Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, HITECH Construction Company, and personnel of the Lagos State Ministry of Works for their support and contributions.
Umahi offered an apology to the public for the sudden closure of the bridge earlier in the year, explaining that the failure was due to a broken slab at the junction between the abutments and the main road, which resulted in dangerous sand leakage beneath the structure.
“Our mistake was not communicating effectively enough. The discovery of the hole and sand leakage left us with no choice but to close the bridge,” he said.
He stressed the importance of regular bridge inspections, noting that many of Lagos’s older bridges have suffered years of neglect.
“We’ve learned valuable lessons — the need for constant inspections and the importance of keeping Lagosians informed during such emergencies,” Umahi added. “President Tinubu has made it clear that infrastructure maintenance is a top priority.”
The Independence Bridge links Lagos Island and Victoria Island, serving thousands of commuters daily.
