Lagos to Shut Eko Bridge Outbound Carriageway from Tuesday for Repairs

The Lagos State Government has announced that the outbound carriageway of Eko Bridge will be shut from Tuesday for emergency repair works.

The announcement was contained in a statement signed on Sunday by the Commissioner of Transportation for Lagos, Oluwaseun Osiyemi.

The decision comes just days after the Federal Minister of Works, David Umahi, indicated that emergency works on the bridge would commence from Sunday night.

What they are saying

The Lagos State Government said the closure is strictly for safety investigations and structural repairs on the outbound section of the bridge.

The affected stretch serves motorists moving from Apongbon towards Ijora Olopa and onward routes into Lagos Island.

• “The Lagos State Government has announced the emergency closure of Eko Bridge (outbound to Lagos Island) for safety investigations and repairs. The closure will commence on Tuesday, 12th May, 2026.” 
• The government further advised motorists to make use of alternative routes, particularly the Third Mainland Bridge, to reduce travel disruption during the repair period.

It also noted that traffic management personnel and security agencies would be deployed along diversion corridors to guide commuters and ease congestion.

Get up to speed

The development follows earlier disclosures by the Minister of Works, David Umahi, who said Buildwell Construction Company and professional divers would conduct detailed investigations to determine the extent of structural damage before final repair works begin.

He had also directed that the assessment be completed within 10 days to allow for the swift commencement of rehabilitation activities.

Umahi explained that sections of the bridge had suffered significant damage in previous incidents, including fire outbreaks linked to illegal storage of chemicals and trading activities beneath the structure.

He also noted that although rehabilitation works had been awarded earlier, implementation was delayed due to funding constraints until renewed approval was granted by President Bola Tinubu.

The Eko Bridge has remained a recurring focus of infrastructure intervention due to its age, high traffic load, and exposure to environmental stress, making continuous monitoring and repairs necessary.

What you should know

The Eko Bridge is one of Lagos’ most important transport links, serving as a key connector between Lagos Mainland and Lagos Island. It plays a major role in easing traffic flow across commercial and industrial districts in the state.

Over the years, the bridge has undergone several rehabilitation exercises due to structural concerns and repeated fire incidents beneath its deck.

• These interventions have often resulted in partial closures and traffic diversions across Lagos.
• In March 2022, the bridge was partially closed for six months following federal-led repair works.
• It was previously reopened in August 2021 after a 10-week rehabilitation exercise.
• In October 2023, David Umahi disclosed that repairs required imported equipment valued at about 1.2 million euros.

Fire incidents linked to illegal activities beneath the bridge have contributed significantly to recurring damage concerns.