Minister of Works, David Umahi, stated that he was unaware of the closure of the Independence Bridge in Lagos. Speaking to journalists during a visit to the site on Thursday, April 3, Umahi expressed his disapproval, calling it “very unfortunate” that the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Mrs. Olukorede Keisha, made such a significant decision without his approval.
He emphasized that a decision of this magnitude, especially in a city like Lagos, should have been discussed at the ministerial level before being implemented. “I wasn’t informed. The controller acted alone, and it’s very unfortunate,” Umahi said. “A bridge closure in Lagos, especially in an emergency situation, requires proper evaluation. We should have studied the impact of this decision before taking action.”
The minister issued a warning to all controllers and engineers, stressing that no route or bridge should be closed without consulting the Permanent Secretary, who must then seek approval from the Minister of Works. He also promised disciplinary action for the decision.
Umahi apologized to Lagos residents and President Bola Tinubu for the disruption caused by the bridge closure. “I take responsibility for it, even though I didn’t order it. I won’t shy away from the failure this sudden closure caused,” he said. “If we had handled this properly, we could have avoided a total closure.”
To address the situation, Umahi outlined plans to temporarily reopen the bridge within three days, by Sunday. He added that after two weeks, permanent repairs would be made, with the necessary work completed in three days.