The Federal Government has directed immediate emergency repairs on several bridges along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway following an inspection that revealed significant structural concerns.
EpeInsights reports that the Minister of Works, David Umahi, made the announcement during a joint inspection tour with officials from the Federal Ministry of Works, engineers, directors of highways, and representatives from the Lagos and Ogun State Ministries of Works.
The inspection covered five key bridges, including those at Lotto, Ogere, Sapade, and Alapako.
According to the minister, the team discovered rusted reinforcement rods and structural damage caused by repeated collisions from heavy-duty vehicles.
He noted that the headroom clearance on many of the bridges was below acceptable standards for modern traffic, leading to frequent impacts that compromise their integrity.
Of the five bridges inspected, the Alapako Bridge was identified as the most critical.
Umahi ordered its immediate closure due to the risk it poses to motorists, stating that although there was no budgetary allocation for these structures, urgent repairs were necessary.
“We inspected the first five bridges and discovered problems. Although the design headroom is 5.6 meters, some bridges are up to 6.2 meters while others fall short. Vehicles continue to hit them, which is very dangerous,” Umahi said.
He added that all future bridge designs must meet a minimum clearance of 6.5 meters to accommodate increasing vehicle sizes and ensure long-term safety.
In a separate development, Umahi ordered a suspension of work on the 12-kilometre Sagamu-Iperu Road project near the Sagamu Interchange.
He expressed dissatisfaction with the quality of work done so far and gave the contractor a seven-day deadline to submit new drawings and cost estimates for a revised construction approach.
The contractor was also directed to remove the current stone base and use appropriate materials and machinery to ensure durability.
Umahi emphasized that proactive intervention is essential to avoid future infrastructure failures, which could result in significantly higher reconstruction costs. He said the inspection reflects the government’s renewed focus on maintaining and improving Nigeria’s road network, particularly along major economic corridors.
The Lagos-Ibadan Expressway is one of the country’s busiest highways and a vital link between the southwest and other regions.
