Sanwo-Olu explains why Ojota-Opebi Link Bridge is not open yet

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has talked about why the Ojota-Opebi Link Bridge is not open for drivers. He said contractors are still doing some work on the project.

Mr Sanwo-Olu shared this during a dinner with some journalists in Lagos, according to TVC.

He mentioned that the government did not want to open the bridge before the contractors bring in the big cranes needed to finish the job.

"We didn’t want to open it and now need to shut it down again before they arrive," he said.

The governor emphasized that the contractors promised the government that the work would finish in two weeks.

"They’ve assured us that in another two weeks, it should be completed," he stated.

If the contractors stick to this plan, the bridge could open by the end of September. But the project has missed several previous deadlines.

In December 2023, Mr Sanwo-Olu said the bridge was about 65 percent complete and would be ready by the second or third quarter of 2024.

In June 2024, the state government announced that the project would be done before the end of that year.

PREMIUM TIMES reported in April that President Bola Tinubu sent Nigeria’s Senate President Godswill Akpabio to open the road.

“The Ojota, Opebi Link Bridge is more than a road; it is a bridge to opportunities. In a city like Lagos, movement is everything. When traffic improves, productivity also improves. When time is saved, businesses grow. When access is made easier, lives also get better,” Mr Akpabio said.

On 3 September, Mr Sanwo-Olu once again said the bridge would open before the end of September, with finishing work still ongoing.

"I want to assure you that the Opebi Link Bridge will be opened by the end of September. We are trying to install the ark on the bridge. We want to make it a tourist attraction," he stated.

Talking about the remaining work, the governor mentioned an architectural feature he called an “iconic cane” structure over the bridge.

He said this feature will give the bridge a unique look. The government wants to finish the planned work before drivers can start using the bridge.

The Ojota-Opebi Link Bridge is meant to provide a new route connecting Opebi, Mende, Maryland, and Ojota. It is expected to help reduce traffic on the roads nearby.