Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has urged residents to plan their outings strategically to mitigate the impact of heavy traffic congestion, particularly in light of the ongoing repairs on the Independence Bridge.
Speaking to journalists on Thursday morning after inspecting the site, Sanwo-Olu acknowledged the severe gridlock experienced by Lagosians on Wednesday evening and Thursday morning due to the bridge closure.
He apologised for the inconvenience, emphasising that the decision to repair the bridge was necessary to prevent a potential disaster.
The structural integrity of the bridge had been a concern for years, necessitating urgent intervention.
The repairs are currently being carried out by Messrs Buildwell Construction under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Works.
Sanwo-Olu encouraged residents to adopt flexible commuting schedules to ease congestion.
He suggested that those without urgent physical engagements should consider remote work or rescheduling outings to non-peak hours.
“If you don’t have a meeting that requires your physical presence, think outside the box. You can adjust your movement, work from home, or find alternative routes to ensure smoother traffic flow.
“If you don’t need to be on the road at 7 a.m., wait until 10 a.m. to allow those who must travel early to move more freely,” he advised.
The governor also mentioned the possibility of implementing a counterflow system in affected areas to improve traffic conditions.
However, he noted that this would require extensive excavation and adjustments and authorities would assess its feasibility in the coming days.
To enhance traffic management, he assured residents that additional officers from the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) would be deployed to key locations.
“We’re calling in more LASTMA officers from other parts of the city to manage the situation, just as we did successfully in November and December,” he stated.
