President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, represented by Godswill Akpabio, president of the Nigerian Senate, on Wednesday, inaugurated critical infrastructure projects delivered by the Lagos State government, including the 5.04km Opebi-Mende Link Bridge, built to ease traffic flow around Mende, Opebi, and Allen Avenue; the Lagos State Geographical Information Centre, and the Multi-Agency Complex, both located at Alausa.

There was no official explanation from the Presidency as of the time of filing this, why the president, who’s been in Lagos since the Easter holidays, failed to show up at the eleventh hour for the inauguration of the much-publicised projects.

This was even as vehicular traffic flows were halted for hours on some roads around Ikeja and Alausa, expectedly, for the president’s unhindered movement. President Tinubu is, however, billed to commission another project: The Tolu Schools Complex in Ajeromi-Ifelodun area of the state on Thursday, April 9, 2026, to end what was planned as a two-day presidential visit to Nigeria’s most populous state and commercial nerve centre.

Speaking on behalf of the president, Akpabio said the projects reflected a deliberate commitment to delivering tangible development that could be felt by citizens, noting that infrastructure remains central to national growth.

He described the Mende–Opebi Link Bridge as a strategic intervention to ease traffic congestion and improve connectivity across key parts of Lagos, noting that enhanced mobility would translate into increased productivity, business expansion and improved quality of life.

“The bridge is more than a road; it is a bridge to opportunity. When movement improves, productivity improves. When time is saved, businesses grow,” he noted.

He added that the Lagos information service centre represented a shift towards a modern, data-driven system of land administration designed to promote transparency, strengthen property rights, and attract investment, while also commending the state for the multi-agency complex, which would enhance coordination among government agencies and improve service delivery.

Akpabio said the projects aligned with the Federal Government’s broader vision of a digitally enabled and economically strong Nigeria, driven by infrastructure development and institutional reforms.

Speaking on the three projects, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu said, “They reflect our approach as an administration: We identify key challenges facing our state and its people, and we respond with practical, well-thought-out solutions, guided by our THEMES+ governing agenda” and the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu.

Sanwo-Olu seized the occasion to acknowledge and thank all of the personnel who helped make the projects happen: the engineers and contractors who delivered under accountability, project managers, and public servants who never lost sight of what the projects mean to the people of Lagos.

He added, “As we commission these projects, we are mindful that there is still more to be done. In the 400-plus days that lie ahead of our administration, we will double down on our investments in infrastructure, the strengthening of our institutions, and intentional improvements in the quality of life for all Lagosians.”

The Mende-Opebi Bridge comprises 2.01km of road, 2.80km of bridge and deck-on-pile structures, and 176 metres of adjoining roads. It is designed to transform movement and connect communities within and around Ikeja. Flagged off in January 2022 by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the bridge creates a new route that reduces traffic around Mobolaji Bank Anthony and Ikorodu Road, resulting in shorter travel times, less stress, and smoother commutes for residents of one of Nigeria’s most congested cities.

SENIOR ANALYST - LABOUR/LAGOS STATE

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