The Federal Government has announced the full closure of the Ijora Bridge in Lagos beginning Saturday, April 27, for critical repair works.
Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Mrs Olukorede Kesha, disclosed this during an inspection of the bridge on Monday. She said the comprehensive repairs are necessary to replace defective bearings located beneath the bridge deck.
“This bridge has been awarded for some time now in different phases,” Kesha explained. “We are now at the final phase, which involves lifting the entire bridge deck to change the faulty bearings beneath. A lot of the bearings are defective, and approximately 50 of them will be replaced across three sections.”
She stressed the strategic importance of the Ijora Bridge, which connects the Ijora Causeway to Apapa—home to the busy Tincan and Apapa ports. While acknowledging the inconvenience the closure may cause, Kesha stated that the repairs are essential for the safety of commuters and to prevent further deterioration of the bridge.
To manage traffic, motorists coming from Ijora will be redirected through the Seven Up Roundabout, while heavy-duty vehicles will be diverted via Costain through Iganmu to reach Apapa.
“We’ve carefully planned diversion routes and don’t anticipate major issues,” she said, appealing to road users for understanding and cooperation.
Kesha assured the public that the bridge is not at risk of collapse but urgently requires structural attention due to reported vibrations, which she attributed to weakened bearings. “It won’t collapse, but it definitely needs help,” she said.
This marks the first major repair work on the Ijora Bridge since its construction decades ago. The first phase, which includes lifting the deck and replacing the bearings, will require a full closure. However, subsequent works like asphalt replacement may be carried out in stages, potentially on Sundays, to reduce traffic disruptions.
Highlighting the need for public awareness, Kesha noted that Minister of Works, Sen. Dave Umahi, had directed that such closures be widely publicised. “With public cooperation, we can complete this project swiftly and restore the bridge to a much safer condition,” she said.
