The Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, has officially reopened the Independence Bridge in Lagos for public use after emergency repairs were carried out on a collapsed section. The reopening happened on Friday afternoon, April 4, 2025.
The bridge, located on the Victoria Island outbound lane, had caved in earlier in the week, prompting immediate closure and emergency repair work. The collapse was due to sand escaping from beneath the road, which caused part of the bridge to sink.
Construction firm, Buildwell, handled the repair under 72 hours, with the process closely supervised by Minister Umahi himself. The minister confirmed that the work done was good enough to allow safe use for now but said more permanent repairs would start in about three weeks.
Umahi also thanked Hitech Construction Company for their support during the repair, especially for providing materials quickly. He appreciated all the engineers and workers who worked day and night to ensure the bridge was reopened as quickly as possible.
He explained that Buildwell did not delay the work with negotiations, as they brought their equipment and began work immediately without first demanding payment.
According to Umahi, the temporary fix involved building a retaining wall supported by piles to stop further sand movement. The damaged part was filled with sub-sand and a 450mm-thick stone base was laid, allowing traffic to resume temporarily.
The minister outlined plans for long-term repairs. After two weeks of traffic use, work will begin to reconstruct the bridge deck in phases. During this period, traffic will be restricted to one side of the bridge while work continues on the other.
He noted that each side of the bridge may take up to two months to complete due to the need for the concrete slab to cure for 21 days before traffic can be shifted.
Umahi admitted that when the bridge was first closed, there was not enough information given to Lagosians about alternative routes. He instructed that going forward, engineers and Works Controllers must ensure proper announcements are made before any road or bridge is closed.
The Independence Bridge closure, which began on April 1, caused severe traffic congestion across Lagos Island. Commuters faced gridlock worsened by heavy rainfall, with many spending over 12 hours on the road. Some only reached their destinations the next day.
