The partial closure of the Eko Bridge has been postponed by one week following a directive from the Ministry of Works to allow for better public sensitization, officials confirmed Tuesday.
The bridge, which was originally scheduled for a partial shutdown on Tuesday morning due to severe structural defects, remained open to traffic on both carriageways.
According to the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Olufemi Dare, who spoke on television, the delay is at the behest of the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi.
"The plan was that Eko Bridge would be shut down on Tuesday," the Controller stated. "But just yesterday, His Excellency sent a message to me that we should give another one-week grace so that we can inform Lagosians. By next Tuesday at 12 midnight, the carriageway will be shut down."
The closure is necessitated by critical issues discovered "under the water" of the Eko Bridge.
Simultaneously, questions were raised regarding the Carter Bridge, which was recently handed over to the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) for demolition and total reconstruction. Despite the handover on May 6, no physical work has commenced on-site.
Olufemi explained that the delay in physical demolition is strategic, citing the need to define the bridge’s alignment and assess potential impacts on surrounding structures in the densely populated Lagos Island area.
"We must be careful. This is Lagos," the Controller said. "We cannot afford to lock down the entire Lagos State."
The ministry also noted that repairs are currently ongoing on the Iddo Bridge, where one carriageway is already closed.
The Lagos comptroller of works emphasised that they cannot shut down Eko, Carter, and Iddo bridges simultaneously without causing total gridlock.
Once full construction begins on both Eko and Carter bridges, traffic is expected to divert heavily to the Third Mainland Bridge, necessitating coordinated efforts from traffic management agencies to mitigate travel delays.
