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Excitement as FG, Lagos Reopen Eko Bridge After 15 Months

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Eko Bridge

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.

Adedapo Adesanya is a journalist, polymath, and connoisseur of everything art. When he is not writing, he has his nose buried in one of the many books or articles he has bookmarked or simply listening to good music with a bottle of beer or wine. He supports the greatest club in the world, Manchester United F.C.

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inDrive Lagos, Abuja Top Drivers Get N30m Fuel, Shopping Vouchers

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inDrive Driver Rewards Campaign

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

Top drivers of a global mobility and urban services platform, inDrive, in Lagos and Abuja were recently rewarded with fuel and shopping vouchers worth N30 million through its Driver Rewards Campaign.

The promo was created by the company in response to rising fuel costs and increasing operational expenses. It is providing meaningful support to its driver community through this initiative, while celebrating their commitment and hard work for keeping Nigeria’s major cities moving every day.

The campaign, which started in March and will end in June 2026, involves distributing vouchers worth N30,000 each to 1,000 eligible drivers through a series of live raffle draws on inDrive’s digital platforms. This effort is designed to acknowledge and reward the most active drivers on the platform for their unwavering dedication and commitment to providing high-quality service to passengers.

The Country Lead for inDrive Nigeria, Mr Timothy Oladimeji, noted that the initiative underscores the organisation’s ongoing commitment to driver welfare and its mission to foster equitable opportunities within the mobility ecosystem.

Mr Oladimeji explained that the Driver Rewards Campaign is designed to ease some financial burdens while encouraging and celebrating drivers’ resilience, professionalism, and dedication to service.

“At inDrive, we understand the realities drivers face every day, especially as rising fuel prices continue to put pressure on their earnings. Our drivers are the backbone of our platform, and this campaign is our way of recognising their dedication and supporting them meaningfully.

“Through these rewards, we want to show that inDrive stands with drivers, values their contribution and remains committed to creating a fairer and more rewarding mobility ecosystem,” he said.

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inDrive Unveils International Social Initiative Against Bullying

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inDrive Cancel the School Trip campaign

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

A social initiative to encourage parents to pay closer attention to their children’s emotional well-being and create space for open conversations has been launched by a global mobility and delivery platform, inDrive.

It is based on inDrive’s Cancel the School Trip campaign, first launched in Kazakhstan in April 2026.

Encouraged by the significant public interest in the project, inDrive intends to roll out the initiative across other markets within its global presence, including Nigeria.

As part of the initiative, users taking morning rides to school received a push notification asking whether they wanted to cancel the trip after the ride had already started. The message appeared to be an app error, but in reality, it served as a communication trigger — a way to pull parents out of their daily routine and redirect their attention to their child’s emotional state.

School bullying remains one of the most widespread — and at the same time one of the least visible — issues affecting teenagers worldwide. According to UNICEF, millions of children regularly experience bullying, yet many never speak about it to adults.

“We need to talk to children more often. Not just ask How are you? But genuinely notice their emotional state, mood, and changes in behaviour. Sometimes, even a short conversation can help identify a problem a child may be afraid to talk about,” the Country Lead for inDrive Nigeria, Mr Timothy Oladimeji, stated.

The symbol of the campaign became the back seat of a car — a space where parent and child are alone together and can talk without distractions. The organisers believe there is not always a need to create entirely new communication rituals; sometimes, it is enough to pay more attention to moments that already exist in everyday life. Even a few minutes of conversation on the way to school can help a child feel heard and safe enough to share their concerns.

In addition to digital tools, installations shaped like car seats were placed across Almaty in shopping malls and at busy city intersections. As part of the initiative, an online platform with practical recommendations for parents was also developed together with child psychologists.

The platform includes materials on recognising signs of bullying, starting difficult conversations with children, and supporting them in challenging situations.

The campaign was followed by a roundtable discussion in Kazakhstan that brought together psychologists, parents, influencers, and representatives of the creative industry. Participants discussed why bullying often remains hidden, how teenage aggression is evolving and which communication approaches help build trust between adults and children.

A separate part of the discussion focused on how to talk to children about difficult emotions and experiences. According to psychologist Kseniya Lych, standard questions are often ineffective because children answer them automatically. Instead, prompts involving imagination and open-ended thinking tend to reduce tension and encourage dialogue.

The initiative received strong public attention and positive feedback from parents, psychologists and the professional community. As a result, inDrive is already planning to expand the campaign to other markets where it operates, adapting it to each country’s local context.

“We see that bullying is an equally painful issue across different countries and cultures. That is why we want to develop this initiative internationally and launch similar projects in other inDrive markets. For us, it is important not only to raise awareness about the problem, but also to help parents pay closer attention to their children’s emotional well-being and start conversations in time,” says Yevgeniy Gavrilchenko, co-author of the idea and Creative Lead at inLab by inDrive.

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FRSC Condemns Attack on Traffic Enforcement Team by DSS Official

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Shehu Mohammed FRSC Corps Marshall

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

The Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr Shehu Mohammed, has kicked against an alleged violent attack on the traffic enforcement team of the organisation by a motorist, who was later identified as a security operative.

In a statement signed by the Deputy Corps Commander for Public Education, Mr Osondu Ohaeri, in Abuja on Friday, it was claimed that the motorist was suspected to be an official of the Department of State Services (DSS).

Narrating the incident in the statement, the FRSC said on Thursday, May 21, 2026, its officials flagged down a Toyota Carina driver for a suspected traffic violation at about 3:20 pm, but he refused to stop and proceeded dangerously until he was eventually held up by traffic close to the Command in Idu, Abuja.

“Upon approach by the patrol team for routine checks of vehicle and driver documents, the offender became hostile, verbally aggressive, and resisted lawful enforcement procedures.

“Despite several tactical and professional attempts by FRSC personnel to de-escalate the situation, the offender escalated the confrontation by physically advancing toward officers and later drawing a pistol, which he fired twice within the vicinity of the Command.

“In the face of imminent danger to lives and property, FRSC personnel acted with remarkable restraint, professionalism, and tactical discipline to swiftly disarm the assailant without loss of life. One Marshal sustained minor bruises during the process,” the statement narrated.

It was disclosed that the suspect was immediately handed over to the Nigeria Police Force at Life Camp Police Station alongside the firearm, ammunition components, and the vehicle involved, with the matter transferred to the appropriate State Command for further investigation.

In the statement, Mr Mohammed praised his men for the courage, professionalism, and maturity displayed by them, saying he’s impressed with how they resisted provocation and ensured that the situation did not degenerate into chaos, despite growing public outrage at the scene.

He further stated unequivocally that no individual, regardless of status, rank, or agency affiliation, is above the law, emphasising that security personnel are expected to lead by example through compliance with established traffic regulations and respect for constituted authority.

He called on all security agencies to continue strengthening inter-agency cooperation, mutual respect, and operational discipline in the collective interest of national security and public safety.

“Firearms and official status must never be used as instruments of intimidation against law enforcement officers carrying out legitimate duties,” he stressed.

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