Months after commissioning, silence trails delay in opening Ojota-Opebi link bridge

By Imisioluwa Afunmiso

The commissioning of the 5.04-kilometre Ojota-Opebi Link Bridge on April 8, 2026, was expected to mark the beginning of a new era for commuters traveling through Opebi, Maryland, Mende, and Ojota, promising reduced travel times and improved connectivity.

However, more than three months later, the bridge remains closed to motorists, leaving residents and traders questioning when it will finally become operational.

A visit by Nigerian NewsDirect to the project site on Monday revealed that construction activities were still ongoing, with engineers and workers seen carrying out various tasks on sections of the bridge and adjoining infrastructure.

Heavy construction equipment also remained on-site, suggesting that work has yet to be concluded.

Attempts to speak with officials of the construction company were unsuccessful, as workers at the site declined to grant interviews, insisting that any information regarding the project must come from the Lagos State Ministry of Infrastructure.

While the delay has left many motorists eagerly awaiting the opening of the bridge, its impact has been even more severe for traders whose businesses were displaced by the construction.

Before work began on the project, the corridor hosted a thriving cluster of basket sellers and other small businesses that attracted customers from across Lagos.

Today, many of those traders have relocated, while others continue to struggle to rebuild their customer base.

Speaking with Nigerian NewsDirect, one trader recalled how the construction altered the area’s commercial landscape, noting that “most of the people moved to the other side; it scattered everybody.”

Describing the effect on business, the trader said sales dropped significantly after the relocation.

“It was very terrible. Most of our customers can’t make it here anymore, and sales went down. We are just trying to recover,” he said.

He explained that many long-time customers still visit the area expecting to find the market where it once stood, only to discover that traders have been forced to move elsewhere.

“Some people know this place very well, but when they come now, they can’t find us because we have changed our environment. Some of them just turn back because they don’t know where we are anymore,” he added.

Another resident who spoke with Nigeria NewsDirect questioned why the bridge had not been opened despite its official commissioning months ago, asking, “They have already commissioned this bridge. Isn’t it supposed to be open after commissioning?”

The lingering closure means that motorists must continue to rely on longer alternative routes, denying commuters the travel time savings the project was designed to provide.

Beyond the inconvenience to road users, the situation has reignited conversations about the growing practice of inaugurating public projects before they are fully ready for use.

While governments often commission projects to showcase development milestones, the real measure of success comes when infrastructure becomes accessible and begins to improve daily life.

For traders along the Ojota-Opebi corridor, the wait has come with a heavy economic cost. Months after relocating, many say they have yet to recover from the disruption caused by the construction.

As Lagos continues to invest heavily in transport infrastructure, residents say greater transparency is needed on the status of major projects. Clear information on the outstanding works, reasons for the delay, and a definite opening date would help address public concerns and restore confidence.

Until then, the Ojota-Opebi Link Bridge stands as a reminder that for many residents, the true completion of a public project is not the day it is commissioned, but the day it opens and begins serving the people for whom it was built.