The Federal Government has announced that the Ijora Bridge in Lagos will be completely closed from April 27 to allow for essential repair works.
Mrs. Olukorede Kesha, the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, disclosed this on Monday during an inspection of the bridge.
She explained that the bridge, which links the Ijora Causeway to Apapa, requires extensive rehabilitation, particularly the replacement of numerous worn-out bearings underneath the deck.
“This project has been ongoing in phases,” Kesha said. “We’re now entering the final stage, which involves lifting the entire bridge deck to replace about 50 faulty bearings across three key sections.”
Kesha highlighted the importance of the Ijora Bridge as a major gateway to Apapa, which houses two of Nigeria’s busiest seaports—Tincan and Apapa ports. While she acknowledged the closure would cause inconvenience, she stressed it was necessary to ensure commuter safety and prevent further damage.
To ease traffic congestion during the closure, motorists coming from Ijora will be redirected through the Seven Up Roundabout, while heavy-duty vehicles will be routed via Costain and Iganmu to access Apapa.
She assured the public that diversion routes have been well planned and major disruptions are not anticipated. She appealed for cooperation and patience from road users, noting that the repair timeline would be tightly managed.
According to Kesha, several citizens had raised concerns about strong vibrations felt while driving on the bridge, a sign of weakening bearings. Though she reassured the public that the bridge is not in danger of collapse, she confirmed it is in urgent need of repair.
“This is the first major maintenance work on the bridge since its construction decades ago,” she added. “If you drive on it now, you’ll feel vibrations caused by the deteriorating bearings.”
The initial stage, which involves lifting the deck and replacing the supports, will require a full shutdown. Later stages, such as resurfacing the asphalt, may be carried out in phases, likely on Sundays, to minimise traffic disruptions.
Kesha also stressed the importance of public awareness, stating that the Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, has instructed that all bridge closures must be widely communicated to the public.
“This project is all about ensuring public safety,” she said. “With everyone’s cooperation, we can complete it efficiently and restore the bridge to a much safer condition.”
