Kate Henshaw criticizes poor planning over independence bridge closure in Lagos
Nigerian actress Kate Henshaw has slammed the authorities over the closure of the Independence Bridge, Victoria Island, which led to hours of gridlock in Lagos on April 2, 2025.
Following massive public outcry, the Minister of Works ordered the reopening of the bridge to ease traffic congestion. However, Henshaw took to X (formerly Twitter) to criticize what she described as poor planning and a lack of consideration for Lagosians.
“In truly civilised nations, such work is done under the gentle cover of night when the city sleeps when disruption is minimal. It’s a matter of respect, empathy & COMMON SENSE. Now you want to open an already excavated bridge for damage control! Mscheeew,” she wrote.
Her post sparked widespread reactions from Lagos residents who had endured the traffic chaos, with many agreeing that the roadwork should have been scheduled for nighttime to minimize disruptions.
One user lamented, “Exactly my point! In developed countries, road repairs are done at night to reduce stress on commuters. But here, we just suffer without planning.”
Another person shared an experience from Germany, saying, “I was surprised to see a road crew fixing roads at 2 a.m. I asked why, and they said it was to avoid disruption and prevent lawsuits. But here? Different story.”
However, some argued that nighttime roadwork might not be effective in Nigeria due to concerns over poor lighting and engineering standards. One commenter stated, “While I understand the frustration, how are we sure the engineers will do a proper job at night? Our leaders need to do better, but corruption remains the root issue.”
The six-hour-long gridlock left many Lagosians stranded, with some recalling past experiences with similar mismanagement, including the prolonged closure of the Third Mainland Bridge.
The controversy has once again highlighted infrastructure planning failures in Nigeria, with citizens demanding more strategic road maintenance schedules to prevent unnecessary hardships.
