Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has advised Lagosians to avoid Victoria Island and other surrounding areas to prevent being caught up in traffic jam.
Motorists were trapped Wednesday night following a gridlock outward the Island. This is a fall-out of the closure of Independence Bridge for repairs by the Federal Government. According to Minister of Works David Umahi the bridge would be closed to traffic till May 2025.
Speaking to journalists on Thursday Sanwo-Olu advised those who do not have business on the Island should avoid the area and also those working there should consider working from home for the time being.
“Let’s think out of the box, let’s now know that if you don’t have a business to do in Victoria Island, in the next two to three weeks, conduct your business via social media, telephone, online meetings and plan ahead, so that if you don’t need to come and visit somebody here, please, you don’t have to come,” said the governor.
If you don’t have a meeting that needs your physical presence, think out of the box. If you don’t need to come out at 7 o’clock, wait till 10 o’clock, let the people that need to come out at 7 and 10 o’clock come out, you defer your time, two, three hours.”
He assured that the number of officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority on the roads in the area would be doubled, noting that, “we’re calling them from other parts of the city, so that they can make a presence here. And like what we did in November, December, they’ll work till very late at night.”
Meanwhile the bridge has been ordered to be reopened by Mr. Umahi.
“The minister has directed me to open the bridge. However, we are carrying out remedial measures because some parts of the bridge had already been broken during repairs,” said the Controller of Works for Lagos State, Engr. Olukorode Kesha,
“We are working overnight to fix the affected sections. The damage is extensive, but all hands are on deck to ensure the bridge is open to traffic as soon as possible.”
