The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, on Wednesday represented Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to inaugurate two key infrastructure projects in Lagos, marking the beginning of a series of commissioning activities tied to the administration of Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
The projects the Open-Mende-Ojota Link Bridge and the Lagos State Multi-Agency Complex in Alausa, now renamed the Bola Ahmed Administrative Complex were officially unveiled during a ceremony attended by several top political figures and government officials.
President Tinubu, who is currently in Lagos on a working visit, had been scheduled to personally inaugurate a number of strategic projects executed by the state government. However, the Senate President stepped in to perform the ceremony on the President’s behalf.
A video shared on social media by Sanwo-Olu’s Senior Special Assistant on New Media, Jubril Gawat, captured the moment Akpabio formally declared the projects open.
Standing alongside prominent dignitaries including the Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, and the Senator representing Lagos East Senatorial District, Tokunbo Abiru, Akpabio cut the ceremonial ribbon.
“On behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, I commission these projects,” he announced, drawing applause from the gathering of officials and invited guests.
The inauguration marks another milestone in the Lagos State government’s ongoing infrastructure expansion aimed at easing transportation challenges and improving administrative efficiency across the state.
President Tinubu arrived in Lagos earlier in the week for what officials described as a two-day working visit, during which he is expected to commission multiple development projects completed under Governor Sanwo-Olu’s administration.
According to the governor’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Gboyega Akosile, the President’s visit was planned to highlight several “iconic, transformative and legacy projects” delivered by the state government.
Among the projects lined up for commissioning are:
- The Ojota–Opebi Link Bridge, designed to reduce traffic congestion in key parts of the city
- The Lagos State Geographic Information Service building in Alausa
- The Lagos State Multi-Agency Complex, now renamed the Bola Ahmed Administrative Complex
- The Tolu Schools Complex located in Ajegunle
- The Maracana Stadium renovation project
- The Lagos Food Logistics Hub in Abijo
Akosile earlier called on residents to welcome the President warmly as he commissions projects that reflect the state government’s commitment to urban development and improved public services.
Ahead of the commissioning events, the Lagos State Government announced temporary traffic diversions and partial road closures across several major routes.
In a statement issued by the Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, authorities explained that the measures were necessary to ensure security, crowd control, and smooth coordination during the ceremonies.
The government urged motorists and commuters to plan their journeys carefully and explore alternative routes to minimize disruptions.
The Opebi-Mende Link Bridge commissioning, scheduled for Wednesday between 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., is expected to affect traffic movement around:
- Opebi
- Allen Avenue
- Ikeja
- Ojota
“Motorists transiting these corridors during the specified hours are strongly advised to seek alternative routes to avoid congestion and ensure timely arrival at their destinations,” the statement read.
Further commissioning events are scheduled for Thursday, April 9, between 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.
One of the major highlights will be the unveiling of the Tolu Schools Complex, a modern educational facility located in the densely populated communities of Olodi-Apapa and Ajegunle.
Officials say the project is designed to improve access to quality education in underserved areas while reducing overcrowding in public schools.
The state government said traffic in surrounding areas may also experience temporary disruptions during the ceremony.
The commissioning of these projects forms part of Lagos State’s broader strategy to strengthen urban mobility, administrative coordination, and social infrastructure in Nigeria’s commercial capital.
The Open-Mende-Ojota Link Bridge, for instance, is expected to significantly ease congestion along major routes connecting Ikeja and surrounding districts, reducing travel time for thousands of commuters daily.
Meanwhile, the Bola Ahmed Administrative Complex aims to centralize government services, improving efficiency among multiple state agencies operating in Alausa, the administrative headquarters of Lagos State.
Urban planners believe such projects could help address the growing challenges posed by Lagos’ rapidly expanding population, estimated at over 20 million residents.
Beyond their infrastructural value, the commissioning ceremonies also carry political symbolism.
The renaming of the multi-agency complex after President Tinubu reflects the strong political alliance between the federal government and the Lagos State administration.
Tinubu, who previously served as governor of Lagos between 1999 and 2007, is widely credited by supporters with laying the foundations for many of the reforms that have shaped the state’s modern governance and economic development.
His return to the state to commission new projects continues that legacy narrative, reinforcing Lagos’ status as a centrepiece of his political influence.
Residents and commuters in affected areas expressed mixed reactions to the temporary traffic restrictions, with some praising the long-term benefits of the projects while others lamented short-term inconveniences caused by road closures.
Many Lagosians, however, remain hopeful that the newly commissioned infrastructure will help address persistent issues such as traffic congestion, administrative delays, and limited public facilities.
For the Sanwo-Olu administration, the projects represent another opportunity to demonstrate progress in delivering on its development agenda, particularly in transportation, education, and public service infrastructure.
As the commissioning ceremonies continue through the week, attention will remain focused on how these projects impact daily life in Lagos — a city whose infrastructure demands continue to grow alongside its population.
For now, the unveiling of the bridge and administrative complex marks an important chapter in the state’s ongoing development story, highlighting the collaboration between state and federal authorities in shaping the future of Nigeria’s economic hub.
