The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has expressed surprise and disappointment over the closure of the Independence Bridge in Lagos, stating that he was not informed of the decision.
Speaking to journalists during a site inspection on Thursday, the former Ebonyi State governor described the unilateral decision by the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Mrs. Olukorede Keisha, as unacceptable and highly unfortunate.
Umahi emphasized that such a significant move, especially in a metropolitan city like Lagos, should have gone through ministerial approval, with a thorough assessment of its impact before execution.
Taking responsibility for the situation, Umahi assured that disciplinary measures would be taken against the controller for her actions.
“I was not informed. The controller acted independently, and that is very unfortunate. Closing a bridge, particularly in Lagos, should follow due process. As the minister, I should have been briefed, and we should have assessed the implications before taking action—even in emergency situations. A proper evaluation would have determined if closure was the only viable option or if alternative measures could have been explored,” he said.
The minister also issued a stern warning to controllers and engineers nationwide, stressing that no road or bridge should be closed without prior approval from the Permanent Secretary, who must obtain clearance from the Minister of Works.
Acknowledging the disruption caused by the abrupt closure, Umahi publicly apologized to Lagos residents and President Bola Tinubu for the inconvenience.
“I sincerely apologize to Lagosians and Mr. President for the hardship this decision has caused. Even though I was not responsible for ordering the closure, I take full accountability for every action taken under the Ministry of Works. This could have been handled better, and a different approach should have been taken to prevent unnecessary disruptions,” he stated.
He further explained that if proper procedures had been followed, a partial closure over a structured timeline—such as Friday to Sunday—could have allowed for essential repairs while minimizing inconvenience.
To address the current situation, Umahi announced that temporary restoration work would be completed within three days, ensuring the bridge fully reopens by Sunday. A permanent fix will then be scheduled after two weeks, requiring only a brief closure to finalize structural reinforcements.