Victor EzejaNigeria’s Minister of Works, Engr David Umahi, has introduced new policy guidelines to follow before a federal road is closed nationwide to avoid subjecting members of the public to unnecessary difficulties.
The Minister of Works made this known when he reopened the Independence Bridge in Lagos after repair of the failed section was completed.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe bridge, which was closed for repairs on 2nd April 2025, caused untold hardship to Lagosians due to traffic gridlock, prompting the minister to visit the area on 3rd April 2025.
Speaking while reopening the bridge for traffic, the minister, who regretted the difficulties that residents had gone through as a result of the closure, explained that it was not done for pleasure but was necessitated by a technical failure of a section of the bridge, which affected its strength and utility.
According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Barr Orji Uchenna Orji, the minister, however, expressed displeasure that the right procedure for the closure was not followed, adding that members of the public were taken unawares, subjecting them to difficulty of movement along the route.
“So, the reason for the closure was not for pleasure. It was because it became very dangerous for commuters to use the place. But we didn’t do it in the right way,” Umahi stated.
The minister further stated that after reviewing the design for the project, they have agreed to redesign the project. “It’s going to be redesigned as one span in a bridge,” he stated.
Umahi emphasised that going forward, a feedback mechanism through stakeholders’ engagement would be a condition for any approval for closure of federal bridges/roads of essential utility, such as those in Lagos State.
He mentioned, among other things, that the person seeking such closure must state “what is to be done on that place, and then state the technical problems and the technical solution. He will be able to put up all these exposures to the public. So, we request comments from the public and tell them how long it is going to last. And so, with this feedback, everybody is in the know, and then we’ll be able to do that.”
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The immediate past governor of Ebonyi State thanked President Bola Tinubu for his leadership approach in handling issues that affect Nigerians.
He also thanked the Governor of Lagos State, the engineers of the Federal Ministry of Works in Lagos, the contractor handling the bridge repair (Buildwell Nig Ltd), and Hitech Nigeria Ltd for their cooperation and assistance that saw to the successful reopening of the bridge.
He also expressed appreciation to some prominent Nigerians, including Chief Tony Elumelu and Aliko Dangote, for their encouragement.
The minister thanked the technical partners for their cooperation that led to the successful completion of the bridge repair and absolved them of any blame in the unfortunate outcome of the closure.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
