In a meeting chaired by President Bola Tinubu, the FEC approved three major Public-Private Partnership (PPP) initiatives. These projects, verified by the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), aim to bridge the infrastructure gap using private capital rather than solely relying on the national budget.
The Director-General of the ICRC, Jobson Ewalefoh, noted that these projects represent a “productivity enabler,” shifting the burden of infrastructure delivery to private investors while ensuring the ports remain competitive regional hubs.
While the FEC looks at future growth, Lagos commuters are facing immediate hurdles.
The Lagos State Government has announced the indefinite closure of the Eko Bridge (Outbound section) starting Tuesday, May 12, 2026.
Urgent safety investigations and structural repairs are required for the stretch between Apongbon and Ijora Olopa. Recent assessments indicated structural vulnerabilities that necessitate an immediate halt to heavy traffic on that side.
Only the outbound lane (leading away from the mainland toward Lagos Island) is closed. The inward lane (heading toward the mainland) remains open to motorists for now.
With the Eko Bridge partially out of commission, traffic is expected to be heavy on alternative routes. Authorities recommend the use the Third Mainland Bridge for all Island-bound trips or Utilize Carter Bridge to access peripheral areas of the Island.
LASTMA and security personnel have been deployed to these diversion corridors to mitigate the inevitable “lockdown” effect during peak hours.
The approval of the IPPs for Apapa and Onne is a massive win for the maritime sector, potentially ending the era of “dark ports.” However, the Eko Bridge closure serves as a stark reminder that while the government builds for tomorrow, the aging “bones” of Lagos’s infrastructure require constant, and often expensive, emergency intervention.
