FG Reopens Independence Bridge, Begs Lagosians Over Lack Of Proper Communication

Federal Government has officially reopened the Independence Bridge in Lagos State following emergency repair works.Speaking at the reopening ceremony on Friday, Minister of Works, David Umahi, said that the closure was prompted by a structural failure involving the approach slab of the bridge, which caved in due to a faulty design.Umahi noted that the slab failed when sand fill beneath it leaked, compromising its integrity and posing a serious risk to commuters.

He said: “It’s not supposed to be a cantilever. What we had was a free-standing approach slab, which is incorrect. Every approach slab must have at least one end fixed.



READ MORE: FG To Close Lagos Independence Bridge For Two Months For Maintenance“The mistake that the controller, Olukorede Kesha, made was that she did not notify us. We also didn’t adequately inform Lagosians of the alternative routes.“Going forward, no road or bridge in Nigeria will be closed without a clearly defined process.

“Controllers must submit drone surveys, state the nature of the technical problem and solution, propose alternative routes, and publish this information to the public.“Any scouring or sand excavation puts the piles at risk,” he said, noting that ongoing studies will guide further reinforcement work.“This is not just about engineering; it’s about communication, safety, and accountability.

We owe it to Nigerians to do better.” The post FG Reopens Independence Bridge, Begs Lagosians Over Lack Of Proper Communication appeared first on Information Nigeria..