Minister of Works, David Umahi, drives after the reopening of the Independence Bridge in Lagos on April 4, 2025.

The Federal Government has officially reopened the Independence Bridge in Lagos following emergency repair works.

This comes two days after millions of Lagosians were locked in hours-long gridlock after the bridge was earlier closed for planned maintenance and rehabilitation works.

Following public outcry as a result of the bridge closure, the Minister of Works, David Umahi, ordered the immediate reopening of the bridge on Thursday. Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, apologized to residents for the gridlock experienced due to the rehabilitation of the bridge. Speaking at the reopening ceremony on Friday, the minister said the closure was prompted by a structural failure involving the approach slab of the bridge, which caved in due to a faulty design.

He stated the initial construction of the approach slab was done as a cantilever, which was structurally inappropriate. Minister of Works, David Umahi, inspects the reopening of the Independence Bridge in Lagos on April 4, 2025. “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,” he said.

Minister of Works, David Umahi, inspects the reopening of the Independence Bridge in Lagos on April 4, 2025.

The minister disclosed that the slab failed when the sand fill beneath it leaked, compromising its integrity and posing a serious risk to commuters. Umahi described the situation as an emergency and admitted that proper procedures were not followed in announcing the closure.