The Federal Government has confirmed that the structural repairs carried out on the Independence Bridge in Lagos are permanent, putting to rest public concerns over the stability and safety of the bridge.
The announcement came during an inspection visit by the Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, on Wednesday, exactly three weeks after the bridge was reopened to traffic on April 5.
According to the Minister, assessments carried out by engineers from the Federal Ministry of Works and Buildwell, the construction firm in charge of the repairs, showed no signs of movement or instability in the section of the bridge that was repaired.
“We are here exactly three weeks later, as promised. The controller of works and Buildwell have confirmed no single deflection, and I can attest to that. Therefore, I declare that the work we did, through God’s grace and wisdom, is now permanent,” Umahi said.
Although the major repairs are complete, Umahi noted that the carriageways of the bridge would still need to be resurfaced. He explained that this aspect of the job has already been added to the existing contract with Buildwell and will be carried out in due time.
Umahi expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for issuing prompt directives that allowed for the swift response to the bridge’s failure. He also thanked Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Lagos State Ministry of Works, HITECH Construction Company, and others who supported the emergency work.
He offered an apology to Lagos residents for the sudden closure of the bridge, clarifying that the decision was made after the discovery of a serious structural problem. According to him, the failure was due to a broken slab between the abutments and the road surface, which led to sand leakage and posed a major risk to users of the bridge.
“Our mistake was not communicating effectively enough. The discovery of the hole and sand leakage left us with no choice but to close the bridge,” he explained.
The Minister also noted the importance of routine bridge inspections, especially in a city like Lagos, where many bridges are aging and have been neglected for years. He noted that the administration of President Tinubu has shown clear commitment to maintaining public infrastructure, especially roads and bridges that are vital to economic activity and public safety.
“The lesson we have learnt is to constantly inspect these old bridges, which have not received adequate maintenance until President Tinubu came into office. He is giving the works sector serious attention. We also learnt the importance of keeping Lagosians informed during such projects,” Umahi said.
