Lagos Governor Apologizes For Gridlock Chaos
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has issued an apology to Lagosians who were left stranded in hours-long gridlock due to repair work on the Independence Bridge. The closure of the bridge, which began on Wednesday evening and continued into Thursday, caused significant traffic delays, leaving thousands of commuters stuck.
The situation garnered widespread attention, with videos and photos of stranded commuters going viral on social media, leading to a public backlash. In response, the Minister of Works, David Umahi, ordered the immediate reopening of the bridge to help alleviate the traffic congestion.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, during a visit to the Independence Bridge on Thursday to inspect the ongoing repairs, apologized for the severe traffic congestion caused by the bridge’s closure. He acknowledged the inconvenience faced by Lagosians and explained that the renovation was essential to prevent a potential disaster due to the bridge’s deteriorating condition.
Sanwo-Olu admitted that better communication with the public about the closure and the repair work should have been done to manage expectations and ease the impact on commuters. He assured that efforts would be made to minimize disruptions moving forward.
He said, “First, I think what is appropriate is really to first tender apologies to all our citizens and to all Lagosians for the very, very difficult, erroneous practices that we experienced in the last 24 hours in the city and within the Island of Lagos.
“I think this apology is important so that we can take full responsibility as a government, both at the national and sub-national levels, for just taking our people through an unfortunate incident. It was all well intended, it was all for good causes, and it was all for us to avert a future disaster that was waiting to happen.”
He acknowledged the challenges faced by commuters due to the closure of the Independence Bridge but emphasized that the decision was made for the greater good of Lagosians. He reiterated that the repairs were crucial to prevent a potential disaster, stressing the importance of ensuring the safety and longevity of the bridge for the benefit of the city’s residents.
It was all for a good cause, it is all to avert future disaster waiting to happen. You know how life is — there is never a best time for you to do all you want to do, there will always be challenges even if you think it is the best time,” Sanwo-Olu said.
“This contract has been signed over three years ago; our duty is to preserve the integrity of the Independence Bridge — which is like one of the oldest bridges in the country.”
Governor Sanwo-Olu advised Lagos residents to plan their travels accordingly due to the ongoing repair work on the Independence Bridge. He urged commuters to consider alternative routes and adjust their schedules to minimize the impact of the traffic congestion caused by the bridge’s closure.
“If you don’t have business to do in Victoria Island in the next two to three weeks, conduct your business via social media, telephone, Zoom meetings, online meetings, let’s plan,” the governor said. “If you don’t need to come and visit somebody here, you don’t have to come.”
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