Lagos commuters were left stranded for several hours on Wednesday due to severe gridlock caused by the closure of the Independence Bridge in the Falomo area of Lagos State. The closure, which is part of an ongoing rehabilitation and maintenance effort, disrupted the daily activities of thousands, leaving many residents with harrowing tales of frustration and hardship.
The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Olukorede Kesha, had announced earlier in the week that the bridge would be closed until the end of May 2025. The closure, she explained, would affect traffic moving from Ahmadu Bello Way and Adeola Odeku towards Marina, Eko Bridge, and Onikan by the Zone 2 Police Command headquarters. Kesha also advised motorists to plan their routes ahead of time to avoid the congestion, urging the public for patience and understanding as the government worked to stabilize the road infrastructure.
Despite these warnings, the closure led to immediate chaos, with Lagos Island enduring excruciating traffic jams that lasted well into the night. Motorists reported being stuck in traffic for hours, with some opting to take ferries to bypass the gridlock altogether. The situation worsened when early morning rains compounded the traffic problems, forcing many commuters to spend hours on the road without progress.
The worst-hit areas were Victoria Island and Ikoyi, where streets became virtually impassable. Some motorists had no choice but to leave their vehicles and trek long distances, with many late for appointments, work, or other commitments. One of the most tragic incidents occurred when a septuagenarian, whose family was preparing for her 70th birthday, fell into an uncovered manhole while trying to escape the gridlock on foot. The woman sustained injuries that required surgery, and her family has called for greater attention to safety in the area, urging the authorities to prevent further accidents.
In another heart-wrenching story, a seven-year-old boy died in the traffic after a vehicle carrying him to the hospital was unable to make it through the gridlock in time. The vehicle had been stuck for hours, and by the time it reached the hospital, the boy had passed away. This tragic loss highlighted the life-threatening consequences of the traffic chaos.
Commuters also reported personal health struggles as a result of the long hours spent in traffic. Dr. Lakinbofa Goodluck, a Lagos resident, shared the distressing experience of his friend, who developed severe ulcer complications after being stuck in traffic from 2 pm to 11:30 pm. Unable to get food or medical attention, her condition worsened until Goodluck’s colleagues helped by sending her food. The prolonged exposure to such conditions also sparked outrage on social media, with many Lagosians criticizing the authorities for the lack of proper traffic management.
The frustration was palpable as social media users shared their experiences of the gridlock, with some claiming to have spent as long as four hours in traffic. One user lamented that the trauma of being stuck in the gridlock only to face the same ordeal the next morning was unbearable. Others voiced their frustrations, calling for better planning and immediate action to alleviate the situation.
Television anchor Rufai Oseni, who was among those caught in the traffic, posted a video expressing his disbelief over the situation, noting that the Federal Government had initially claimed that the Independence Bridge would be opened, only for commuters to encounter more problems due to ongoing repairs.
In response to the public outcry, Olukorede Kesha confirmed that the government was working on remedial measures to reopen the bridge for vehicular traffic as quickly as possible. However, she could not confirm whether the bridge would be fully operational by Friday. Kesha assured the public that her team was working through the night to expedite repairs, acknowledging the widespread damage to parts of the bridge.
In an attempt to address the growing frustration, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu visited the site of the Independence Bridge rehabilitation on Thursday. He expressed his apologies to the public for the significant disruptions caused by the closure and explained that the decision to close the bridge was made to prevent a potential disaster. The Governor emphasized that the bridge’s structural integrity had severely deteriorated, making immediate repairs essential to avoid further safety hazards.
While the repair works are expected to continue for several more months, the government has assured residents that efforts are being made to reopen the bridge as soon as possible and to ensure that Lagosians experience less disruption in the coming weeks. However, as the situation stands, commuters continue to struggle with the prolonged effects of the closure, highlighting the challenges that come with infrastructural upgrades in one of Africa’s busiest cities.