Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has apologised to motorists caught in a crippling traffic nightmare on Wednesday following the sudden closure of Independence Bridge in Victoria Island.

The hours-long gridlock left commuters stranded, sparking frustration across the city.

On Thursday morning, Sanwo-Olu led top government officials—including Transportation Commissioner Oluwaseun Osiyemi, Information Commissioner Gbenga Omotoso, and Special Adviser on Transport Hon. Sola Giwa—to assess the situation firsthand

Acknowledging the chaos, he admitted that poor public communication and planning worsened the crisis.

“Everyone was rushing back to work after the long Eid-el-Fitr break, and this area is the Central Business District. The lack of adequate communication contributed to the situation, and I take full responsibility,” Sanwo-Olu stated.

With the bridge closure expected to last three weeks, the Governor urged Lagosians whose jobs allow remote work to stay off the Island and utilise virtual platforms like Zoom to reduce congestion.

“This is not the time to drive recklessly or go against traffic. A little patience will go a long way in solving the problem,” he advised.

To prevent another traffic meltdown, Sanwo-Olu announced an emergency deployment of additional traffic officers and security personnel, doubling the number of LASTMA officials managing the roads.

“You will see twice the number of LASTMA officers on the road, working late into the night to ease the congestion,” he assured.

Meanwhile, in response to the Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi’s directive for an immediate reopening of the bridge, Sanwo-Olu pushed back, warning that the ongoing excavation work had made the route impassable.

The Independence Bridge saga continues, but with Sanwo-Olu at the helm, Lagosians can only hope for a quicker, smoother resolution.

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