Umahi: Why we pardoned controller who acted alone in Lagos bridge closure

David Umahi, the minister of works, says the suspension of Olukorede Kesha, the federal controller of works in Lagos, has been lifted.

On Monday, Kesha announced the closure of the bridge for essential maintenance and rehabilitation works.

Kesha added that the bridge would remain closed until the end of May.

However, the closure resulted in hours-long gridlock, with commuters and motorists cursing their luck for 48 hours in the Victoria Island area of Lagos.

Following the public outcry that trailed the gridlock, Umahi ordered the immediate reopening of the bridge.

Speaking in an interview with Arise TV on Sunday, Umahi said he was very disturbed because of the closure of the bridge.

He said the process should have been reported to the permanent secretary in writing and through WhatsApp message because it was an emergency situation.

“And then the permanent secretary would have also reported to me,” he said.

“Of course in an emergency situation, while you’re reporting to the permanent secretary, you are also copying me as the minister because it’s an emergency situation. That was not done.”

Umahi said Kesha was temporarily placed on suspension for her action.

He said the controller, however, presented the picture of the bridge at the time she was closing it.

“We saw that there was a very big crack. If that bridge was not closed at the time it was closed, it would have led to multiple traffic accidents,” he said.

“And that would have not been good, lives would have been lost. When we looked at it, we agreed with her that there was a need to close that bridge.

“The only mistake was that she should have escalated the closure at the time she did. But I also saw that she announced to Lagosians in a couple of days that they are going to close this bridge.”

The minister said after a review process, the ministry recalled Kesha and pardoned her for the “honest mistake”.

“She has resumed her work,” he said.