ANGRY reactions have continued to trail the closure of Independence Bridge, a major road network linking Victoria Island and other parts of Lagos, by the Federal Government as Lagosians spent many hours in traffic.
Yesterday’s experience, which was the second day of the closure, saw most of the adjourning roads impassable in what has become a nightmare for commuters.
Angry motorists and road users, who plied the axis, blamed both the Federal Government and Lagos State government for not making adequate arrangements for alternative routes.
Many Lagos residents, who took to X handle, expressed their frustrations over the chaotic traffic situation.
They equally expressed frustrations that traffic officials, including the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, and traffic wardens were not on ground to control and manage the traffic situation around Victoria Island.
An X user, Dolapo Klasick @KlasickTheHost, said: “You guys don’t even rate the residents of the said Lagos city. You think you can just do anything you want at any time without a proper public announcement about whatever it is you were fixing before the time.
“That’s how you wake up tomorrow and just inconvenience the citizens or ban anything.”
Another X user, The People’s Lawyer @DpeopleLawyers wrote: “While we appreciate your visit and apology, Lagosians need immediate, practical solutions—not just a shift of responsibility to private companies.”
To better manage the traffic crisis, he urged the state government to “Prioritize weekend and nighttime repairs to minimize disruption during peak hours, implement a timed repair schedule with clear milestones and public updates.
Lead by example—start remote work with civil servants first before urging private companies.
“Deploy more LASTMA officials and real-time traffic monitoring for effective control. Improve public communication with alternative route advisories via traffic apps and media.
Lagosians are enduring this hardship, but better planning and execution will ease the burden. Let’s act decisively to make Lagos work efficiently for all.”
Also, Anunu Ebe (@izzy_mbonu), wrote: “Akinwumi Ambode built a new Jubilee bridge in a very busy Ajah junction and other busy locations across Lagos. Nobody knew till they were completed.
“Lagosians have to ration their lives due to maintenance on an existing bridge
Also recounting their experiences during Wednesday’s gridlock, some motorists attributed their sufferings to a lack of adequate security and traffic control on the route.
They also insisted that they will not be able to endure the gridlock for two monts that the bridge will be closed.
Commuters, who spoke with Vanguard, claimed they spent more than five hours on the route, lamenting that throughout the gridlock, no police officer or any traffic official was sighted.
Mr Theophilus, a banker, who claimed he was going to the office at Lekki, said he got stuck at Osborne down to Falomo for about eight hours and had to turn around by 8 pm to head home at Gbagada.
He said: “When I left my house at Gbagada, I thought all was well until I got close to Osborne where I got trapped. I thought it would ease within a few minutes only for the gridlock to continue for unending hours. While we were there, I saw children also trapped in their parents’ vehicles and many motorists had to go for either food or fuel to sustain their continued stay in the traffic.”
The Lagos Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Kehinde Hamzat, assured yesterday that the agency will not allow a repeat of the traffic gridlock along the corridor again.
According to him, the FRSC, Lagos Traffic Management Agency, and the police will be working together to ensure free flow of traffic.
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