Sanwo-Olu Appeals to Lagosians on Severe Traffic Congestion on Lagos Island
The Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu appealed to Lagosians regarding the traffic congestion experienced on Lagos Island due to the ongoing bridge rehabilitation at the Independence Bridge.
According to eyewitnesses, it was reported that the journey scheduled for 15 minutes became 5 hours for many motorists, as public transportation passengers were seen alighting from the vehicles and making a long walk through the traffic congestion. Other motorists had fuel tanks exhausted and many were stranded on the road, while others slept on the road due to the heavy traffic.
A road user said, “Na wetin my eye see 😩. 15 mins journey turned to almost 4 hours.” Like many Lagos residents, some celebrities were also trapped on the road on Wednesday, April 2, owing to the traffic reportedly caused by the construction process in the Lagos Island axis of the state.
According to reports, notable celebrities, including actress Funke Akindele, singer Nasboi, and Cubana Chief Priest, among others, shared their stranded experiences on the Lagos road.
The Federal Government, through the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, has issued a new order that construction work should be suspended while Lagos Gov. Sanwo-Olu reiterated the urgent need for the construction works on the bridge to continue amid the traffic to avert public collateral damages.
“This morning, I arrived at the Independence Bridge, Bonny Camp, to personally assess the ongoing repair work being carried out by the Federal Ministry of Works.
“I sincerely apologize to all Lagosians for the severe traffic congestion experienced yesterday. I understand the frustration, delays, and disruptions this has caused in your daily lives. As someone who also moves through this city, I feel your pain, and we do not take your patience and resilience for granted.”
He noted further that the decision to fix the Independence Bridge was not made overnight. This repair has been in the works for over three years, carefully planned to avert a potential disaster. The structural integrity of the bridge had deteriorated, and delaying this intervention any further would have put lives at risk.
While this repair is necessary for the safety of all, I acknowledge the burden it has placed on commuters. We are working closely with all relevant agencies to improve traffic management and find immediate solutions to ease the congestion.
I assure you that we are not just watching from the sidelines; we have deployed additional traffic monitoring officials and security personnel to ensure traffic flows freely.
I also want to urge businesses and organizations across Lagos to explore flexible work arrangements, including remote work and hybrid models. I encourage employers to consider how flexible work policies can contribute to a more efficient Lagos, where people spend less time in traffic.
Let us embrace innovative solutions that support our economy and quality of life.
Lagosians, I ask for your continued patience and cooperation. Your safety remains our priority, and we are committed to ensuring that our city remains not only a hub of progress but also a place where infrastructure serves the people effectively. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu concluded.
