Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has issued an apology to residents over the severe traffic congestion experienced across the city, particularly on Lagos Island, over the past 24 hours.

Speaking on behalf of both the State and Federal Governments, he acknowledged the hardships faced by commuters and assured them that measures were being taken to mitigate the situation.

Governor Sanwo-Olu explained that the ongoing repair work on Independence Bridge, being handled by Messrs Buildwell Construction, had been planned for over three years.

The repairs are crucial to preserving the structural integrity of the bridge, which is one of the oldest in the country, estimated to be between 80 and 90 years old.

The bridge serves as a vital transportation link connecting Victoria Island from Bonny Camp to the Marina side of Lagos Island.

“I believe the most appropriate thing to do is to extend our sincere apologies to all our citizens, especially Lagosians, for the severe traffic congestion experienced over the past 24 hours in the city, particularly on Lagos Island,” the governor stated.

He emphasized that while the inconvenience was regrettable, the repair work was essential to preventing potential disasters.

“The approach section from Victoria Island to Marina has been under severe structural threat. Over the past few years, Buildwell Construction has undertaken foundational stabilization work beneath the bridge, but a critical 15 to 20-meter span requires urgent intervention,” he explained.

Governor Sanwo-Olu warned that failure to address the structural issues could lead to catastrophic consequences, including a potential bridge collapse. “If this issue is not resolved, there is a real risk that, one day God forbid a section of the bridge could collapse, sending vehicles into the water,” he said.

In response to the traffic congestion, the governor announced that additional traffic management personnel were being deployed from other parts of the city to ease the gridlock in affected areas.

He assured Lagosians that, as in previous months, these personnel would work late into the night, and possibly into the early morning, to restore smooth traffic flow and ensure public safety.

Furthermore, he appealed to residents to exercise patience and cooperate with traffic regulations. He discouraged reckless driving, particularly one-way violations, which he said exacerbated congestion. “While we acknowledge our responsibility as a government, we also urge residents to cooperate by planning their journeys accordingly and obeying traffic regulations, signs, and signals,” he added.

Governor Sanwo-Olu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to infrastructural development and public safety, promising that all efforts were being made to complete the repair work as swiftly as possible while minimizing disruptions to daily activities.