On the 2nd of March 2025, Lagosians left their houses early in the morning with the hopes of returning back by nightfall. Unbeknownst to them, this would not be happening, because of a severe gridlock that left commuters stranded for two days. The cause? The closure of Independence Bridge in the Falomo area of Lagos State on Tuesday. The traffic congestion affected Victoria Island, Ikoyi and Lekki.
After getting reports of the adverse effect of the bridge closure, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Works Minister Dave Umahi raced to the bridge. They accepted full responsibility for the development and apologised to motorists for the inconvenience they experienced. Afterwards, Dave Umahi ordered the reopening of the bridge in a bid to decongest the gridlock.
The Works Minister also assured commuters that more traffic enforcement officers and security personnel would be deployed to manage the traffic flow and ensure the safety of motorists. The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) is said to have dispatched 600 officers and 90 guards to the routes. The government also announced alternative routes to help commuters ease the gridlock.
What Exactly Brought about the Gridlock
The Independence bridge which is over 53 years old was shut on Tuesday for the rehabilitation of its crumbling supports and shaky beams. Olukorede Kesha, the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, set the time for completion of the repairs for the end of next month
The result of the gridlock was devastating: commuters were left stranded with some vehicles running out of fuel while some overheated because of the resultant stress on the engine. There was also the fear of attacks by hoodlums who would use the gridlock as an opportunity to prey on commuters.
Responses of Commuters on Social Media
Many angry and frustrated Lagosians took to social media, especially X to share their experiences. A commuter, Olamide Obe posted, ‘I’m finally settled in my bed after a hectic day in Lagos traffic today. I walked 5.24km (7207 steps) tonight just to get home. We had to park the car somewhere safe and started walking home’
‘The craziest thing is that sirens are still blaring loudly on the roads as I was typing this message. Everywhere is still completely blocked. Many people living on the mainland should just forget about getting home tonight. Their best bet is to go back to their offices to sleep or, better still, to find a cheap hotel to pass the night,’ he continued. He also lamented about how some police escorts were driving against (one-way) traffic, further worsening the traffic.
Another X user with the user name BRAINBOX posted, ‘9+ hours in traffic!!! I spent 7 hours from Evercare hospital to Access Bank on Admiralty alone. People are still currently stuck in traffic with no clue on what time they’ll get to their destination, + people walking. It’s just been unbearable.”
The posts were so many it kicked off a number of Trending words, including ‘Lagos’, ‘traffic’ and so on.
Ultimately, the Lagos gridlock, which left many Lagosians sleeping in their cars, was likely caused by inadequate planning before the closure of the Independence bridge. We can only hope the Lagos State Government and other state governments have learned from this experience. What are our thoughts on the Lagos gridlock? If you were one of those who experienced the gridlock, kindly share your ordeal in the comments section.
