Commuters in Lagos faced severe gridlock on Wednesday following the closure of the Independence/McWen Bridge, inbound Lagos Island, for rehabilitation.
The shutdown, announced by the Federal Ministry of Works, has caused widespread disruptions in Ikoyi, Victoria Island, Lekki, and other parts of the city.
The bridge closure, part of ongoing infrastructure upgrades, has forced motorists to seek alternative routes, triggering heavy congestion across major roads in Nigeria’s commercial capital.
Severe Traffic Disruptions and Motorists’ Frustration
With the bridge shut down, road users have been left stranded in hours-long traffic jams, causing frustration among commuters and business owners.
Social media has been flooded with complaints from frustrated Lagosians.
“Your focus should be on the motorist stuck in Lekki traffic. Please, we have been here for the past five hours! 90% of us are all heading to the mainland. This is pure punishment!” a commuter, Pelumi Oludayo, lamented on X (formerly Twitter).
Another stranded road user said,
“Lagos is practically on lockdown. It took me three hours to move from Lekki Phase 1 to Falomo. Something must be done urgently.”
The situation was worse in Victoria Island and Ikoyi, as thousands of vehicles attempted to navigate through alternative routes.
LASTMA Issues Alternative Routes
In response to the traffic chaos, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) released a statement via its X account, advising motorists on alternative routes to navigate the city:
To Inner Marina/CMS/Eko Bridge
Motorists from Ahmadu Bello Way should divert to the service lane and proceed to Bonny Camp Roundabout.
From there, they should continue on Ozumba Mbadiwe, turn onto Akin Adesola, pass by the Law School and Falomo, then proceed to Awolowo Road and Randle Road before arriving at Onikan Marina.
Diversion for Ozumba Mbadiwe Road Users
Motorists can either use the Falomo Ramp Bridge or the Law School route to navigate around the closure.
To the Third Mainland Bridge
Motorists should follow Ahmadu Bello Way, divert to the service lane at Bonny Camp Roundabout, continue on Ozumba Mbadiwe, turn onto Akin Adesola, pass through the Law School and Falomo Bridge, and then proceed along Alfred Rewane Road to Osborne and Ring Road before connecting to the Third Mainland Bridge.
Criticism Over Timing and Poor Planning
Many Lagos residents have criticized the timing of the rehabilitation work, arguing that it should have been scheduled at night or during non-peak periods.
A transport analyst, Gbenga Alade, faulted the lack of adequate planning before closing the bridge.
“The government should have created temporary alternative routes or worked on the bridge in phases. Shutting it down completely without providing proper traffic control has only made life miserable for commuters.”
Some road users also accused authorities of failing to give sufficient notice before the closure, resulting in the widespread confusion that followed.
Businesses and Commuters Hit Hard
The gridlock has not only affected commuters but has also impacted businesses. Many workers arrived late to their offices, and delivery services experienced delays due to the congestion.
“We have orders to fulfill, but most of our drivers are stuck in traffic. This situation is hurting businesses,” said Tunde Adeniran, a logistics manager.
Ride-hailing services like Uber and Bolt also saw a sharp increase in fares, with some trips costing twice the normal fare due to the heavy congestion.
As traffic conditions continue to worsen, commuters and business owners are calling on the Lagos State Government to:
Improve traffic management efforts by deploying more LASTMA officials to congested areas.
Consider night-time rehabilitation work instead of shutting down major routes during peak hours.
Provide additional alternative routes to ease congestion.
Ensure timely communication about future road closures to allow residents to plan ahead.
For now, residents are bracing for prolonged delays, as authorities have not announced when the bridge repairs will be completed.
