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Excitement as FG, Lagos Reopen Eko Bridge After 15 Months
By Adedapo Adesanya
Lagosians can expect some form of ease as the federal government, in collaboration with Lagos State Government on Saturday, reopened the Eko Bridge, as promised, after 15 months of closure due to rehabilitation work.
The bridge, which is one of the three bridges linking the mainland to the Island of Lagos, had been severely damaged at the Apogbon section during a fire caused by illegal traders under it, and this prompted the closure for repair.
However, the closure created headaches for commuters in the commercial capital. Now, the bridge’s reopening will bring huge relief for motorists and commuters who endured months of pain transiting in and out of Lagos Island.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who was joined by the Federal Comptroller of Works, Mrs Olukorede Keisha, apologised for the delay in getting the bridge back to use, stressing that it would be risky to reopen the bridge without proper reconstruction of the damaged section.
He noted that the repair at the Apogbon axis had been completed but added that maintenance work would continue on the infrastructure, which would lead to intermittent closures in the coming months.
“It is with great delight to announce that we have carried out comprehensive tests with the contractor from the Federal Ministry of Works. We believe that the Apogbon section of the Eko Bridge can now be opened for motorists. But the maintenance work on the entire bridge has not been completed. There are lots of bearings that still need to be reinforced along the entire stretch of the infrastructure.
“In the future, there will be more intermittent closures at different sections of the bridge, but the period may not be longer than one or two weeks. This is necessary for us to jerk up the bridge and complete the maintenance work. We are reopening the bridge to bring relief to road users, who have endured hardship due to the repair work,” Mr Sanwo-Olu stated.
The governor said the contractor handling the work would also be reconstructing ancillary roads along the corridor to prevent further misuse of the bridge.
Mr Sanwo-Olu warned that continuous trading activities under the bridge would no longer be permitted to prevent further damage to the flyover.
The Governor issued a seven-day ultimatum to all traders and illegal squatters to remove their belongings and vacate the space under the Eko Bridge.
He directed the Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Enforcement Unit (Taskforce) to clear any illegal structure found under the bridge after the ultimatum.
“We are using this medium to warn those trading under the bridge that we will not tolerate any form of illegal activities under this bridge and other bridges in the State. The bridges are important assets to the State, and we cannot fold our arms and allow a few people to destroy them.
“We have seen the effect which the destruction of Eko Bridge caused the entire city. We cannot afford to have these bridges shut down again because of illegal activities. We will clear all squatters from Ijora Olopa to Costain, and there will be zero tolerance for market activity under the bridge.”
On her part, Mrs Keisha commended the Lagos State Government for collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Works to hasten up the repair work on the bridge, noting that the reopening of the bridge was made possible because of the intervention of the State Government.
She said comprehensive maintenance work had already started on Eko Bridge before the fire incident happened, which made the contractor abandon the work to focus on the damaged sections.
Having repaired the parts damaged by the fire, Mrs Keisha also said the contractor would continue the maintenance work to reinforce the bridge for public safety.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc has provided a financing facility worth about $100 million to assist Lagride expand its electric vehicle charging infrastructure in Lagos State.
The loan would also be used by the company to scale its Drive-to-Own programme and enable 3,500 Lagos drivers to transition from daily earners into long-term asset owners, business operators and mobility investors.
The partnership strengthens Lagos State’s transportation ecosystem and accelerates the shift toward a structured, technology-enabled and financially bankable mobility sector.
Over the past 10 months, Lagride has rebuilt its entire onboarding and operational system for drivers, known as Lagride Captains.
The platform introduced a performance-led Drive-to-Earn structure supported by weekly and monthly rental models. This system has generated consistent 90-day usage and repayment data across the fleet, allowing UBA and other financial institutions to assess driver performance with accuracy, confidence and transparency.
Eligibility for the programme is based on clearly defined performance thresholds, repayment discipline, safety compliance and service consistency.
Through this approach, Lagride has emerged as the most structured, data-driven and credit-ready mobility platform in Nigeria, setting a new benchmark for bankable driver financing and asset ownership.
EV Infrastructure Expansion
As part of the milestone, Lagride also unveiled an expanded electric vehicle charging facility in Alausa, Lagos, reinforcing its long-term commitment to clean, future-ready mobility.
The expanded infrastructure is designed to support the growing electric vehicle segment within Lagride’s fleet, reduce operational downtime and enable more efficient, sustainable transportation at scale. By pairing driver financing with practical EV infrastructure, Lagride is positioning itself as a mobility platform built not just for today’s Lagos, but for the next generation of urban transport.
“Lagride was created to give Lagos a modern, disciplined and technology-driven mobility system while ensuring that drivers are not left behind.
“The goal is for drivers who we call Captains to become business owners, fleet partners and mobility investors, not just drivers.
“This $100 million partnership with UBA moves thousands of captains closer to owning productive assets, managing multiple cars and building stronger financial futures. It is a major step forward in our commitment to driver prosperity and the future of smart mobility in Lagos,” the chairman of Lagride, Ms Diana Chen, said.
On his part, the chief executive of UBA, Mr Oliver Alawuba, said Lagride represents the kind of transformational, well-governed and data-backed initiative that UBA exists to support across Africa.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The Nigeria Police Force has said it would begin the enforcement of the controversial tinted glass permit despite an ongoing case in the court.
In a statement on Monday night signed by its spokesman, Mr Benjhami Hundeyin, the police said the reason for the resumption of the enforcement was due to insecurity in the country.
The enforcement, the statement noted, will resume on Friday, January 2, 2026, and motorists who require the tinted glass permit have been encouraged to apply through the approved channels and ensure that their vehicles comply with legal procedures.
The police noted that there was not a time the court prevented it from going ahead with the implementation of the tinted glass permit, noting that this was for the “safety of all citizens.”
“It is important to clarify that at no point did the court restrain the Nigeria Police Force from enforcing the provisions of the law regarding the use of tinted glass on vehicles.
“Nonetheless, in the spirit of responsibility, transparency, and public convenience, the Force suspended enforcement to allow motorists ample opportunity to regularise their documentation and complete the registration process without pressure,” parts of the statement today stated.
“Recent trends, however, reveal a disturbing rise in criminal activities perpetrated with the aid of vehicles fitted with unauthorised tinted glass. Some individuals and organised criminal groups have exploited this gap to conceal their identities and facilitate crimes ranging from armed robbery to kidnapping and other violent crimes.
“In view of this, the Nigeria Police Force has found it both necessary and urgent to resume full enforcement as a proactive measure to safeguard our communities.
“Consequently, enforcement of tinted glass permit will resume on January 2, 2026,” it declared.
“The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, assures the public that the renewed enforcement will be carried out with utmost professionalism, respect for the rights of citizens, and in accordance with extant laws.
“He adds that the Force remains committed to promoting public safety and upholding the rule of law while working collaboratively with all stakeholders to keep Nigeria secure,” the statement added.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The 6th edition of the annual Don’t Drink & Drive (DDD) campaign of the Beer Sectoral Group (BSG) of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), organised in partnership with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), has officially flagged off.
The safer roads initiative commenced in Lagos with a press interaction and stakeholder briefing attended by FRSC officials, the BSG executive team, transport unions, and media organisations.
The DDD campaign reinforces BSG’s ongoing commitment to promoting responsible drinking and safer roads across Nigeria.
Chairman of the group, Mr Carlos Coutino, stressed the industry’s unwavering commitment to road safety and responsible drinking.
“The beer industry remains steadfast in its commitment to responsible drinking advocacy. The Don’t Drink & Drive campaign has been one of the Beer Sectoral Group’s flagship corporate social responsibility programmes since inception, aimed at saving lives and fostering safer transportation habits,” Mr Coutino stated.
In his welcome address, the Corps Commander, Mr Kehinde G. Hamzat, emphasised the heightened dangers on the roads during the festive season and the need for stronger public awareness:
“The risk of road crashes increases significantly during the festive season, which is why we must intensify public sensitization efforts. Collective awareness and responsible choices are critical to saving lives on our roads,” he said.
He lauded the BSG member companies for their consistent support of the FRSC in this initiative over the years, noting that their commitment has made a real impact in reducing avoidable accidents.
“I wish to express my profound appreciation to our esteemed stakeholders, Beer Sectoral Group for partnering with the Federal Road Safety Commission in the campaign for continued corporate social responsibility efforts towards ensuring safety on our roads,” he said.
In her closing remarks, the Executive Secretary of BSG, Mrs Abiola Laseinde, thanked the FRSC and transport stakeholders for their continued collaboration, underscoring the vital role of collective action in reducing avoidable accidents caused by drunk driving.
After the event, the team proceeded to major motor parks in Lagos, Berger and Ojota — for the park rallies.
At each location, commercial drivers and road users received safety sensitization, breathalyzer demonstrations, and branded educational materials. The rally also featured direct engagements with transport unions and drivers to reinforce the message of safety and responsible alcohol consumption.
The BSG comprises notable brewers like International Breweries Plc, Nigerian Breweries Plc, and Guinness Nigeria Plc.
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