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Lagos in Chaos: Bridge Closure Sparks Deadly Gridlock, Leaving Commuters Stranded for Hours

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Lagos in Chaos: Bridge Closure Sparks Deadly Gridlock, Leaving Commuters Stranded for Hours

Lagos in Chaos: Bridge Closure Sparks Deadly Gridlock, Leaving Commuters Stranded for Hours

Lagos, Nigeria – A traffic nightmare unfolded in Lagos on Wednesday, leaving thousands of commuters stranded for hours as the Independence Bridge closure in Falomo triggered an unprecedented gridlock across the city. The situation spiraled into tragedy, with reports of a seven-year-old boy dying in traffic after failing to reach the hospital on time, and a 70-year-old woman hospitalized after falling into a manhole while trekking to escape the congestion.

City in Gridlock: A Commute from Hell

What started as a routine road closure for bridge maintenance quickly descended into chaos, as Lagosians found themselves trapped in endless traffic stretching across Victoria Island, Ikoyi, and Lekki. Stranded motorists blasted the government for poor planning, with some spending over ten hours on the road while others were forced to trek miles to reach their destinations.

In viral videos flooding social media, frustrated commuters vented their anger, calling the gridlock a disaster in the making.

“Welcome to Lagos! I spent four hours just trying to move a few kilometers. This city is unlivable!” lamented an X user, Chris Ejiofor.

Another commuter, Dr. Lakinbofa Goodluck, shared a distressing story of a friend who nearly collapsed from ulcer complications due to the prolonged stay in traffic, barely surviving thanks to an emergency food delivery from colleagues.

Tragedy Strikes: Death and Injury Amid the Standstill

While many cursed their luck in the excruciating gridlock, others faced unimaginable heartbreak.

A seven-year-old boy lost his life, unable to reach the hospital in time because the car carrying him was stuck for hours in traffic.

“The boy had been referred to a private hospital, but they couldn’t move because of the congestion. By the time they got out, it was too late,” a source close to the family revealed.

In another grim incident, a septuagenarian who had spent hours in traffic decided to trek home—only to fall into a hidden manhole, leaving her with severe injuries requiring multiple surgeries. Her family, still in shock, had been preparing to celebrate her 70th birthday this Sunday.

“We were planning a grand birthday for her. Now she’s in the hospital instead, fighting for her life,” her relative, Tosin Kassim, said.

Government Scrambles for Damage Control

As public outrage mounted, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu rushed to the site on Thursday, apologizing for the disruptions and admitting that the situation had spiraled beyond expectations.

“We understand the hardship this has caused Lagosians, but the bridge’s structural integrity was failing. Immediate repairs were necessary to avoid a disaster,” Sanwo-Olu explained.

Meanwhile, Federal Controller of Works, Olukorede Kesha, announced plans to reopen the bridge partially, revealing that engineers were racing against time to complete emergency work by Friday.

However, critics slammed the government for poor planning and lack of proactive measures, with popular TV anchor Rufai Oseni calling the situation “a joke of a leadership failure.”

Lagosians Left to Fend for Themselves

With no immediate relief in sight, Lagosians braced for more traffic horror in the coming weeks, as the bridge closure is expected to last until May 2025.

For now, residents are left with two options: battle the chaos or find alternative routes—if they exist at all.

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Otunba Olufemi Okenla turns 60 Today

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Otunba Olufemi Okenla turns 60

Otunba Olufemi Okenla turns 60

 

Otunba Olufemi Okenla, chairman of HDV Group and owner of Ibis Ikeja Hotel, turned 60 today .

 

To celebrate this milestone, the lawyer-turned-entrepreneur has planned various programs for his diamond jubilee.

 

 

As part of the festivities, he will officially open a multi-million naira Entrepreneur Centre at Olabisi Onabanjo University his alma mater in Ago Iwoye on Wednesday, showcasing his commitment to community development and supporting his roots.

Otunba Olufemi Okenla turns 60

 

 

 

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Grace Nation: The Implications of Unrighteousness is Suffering – Dr Chris Okafor

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Grace Nation: The Implications of Unrighteousness is Suffering – Dr Chris Okafor.

…. God is too Loaded to Lie – Okafor

Understanding God’s Purpose for Financial Dominion is also understanding God as the Processor of Life, He is the alpha and Omega of wealth, when you understand his Principles and follow his command you will experience financial Dominion because silver and Gold belongs to the Lord.

Teaching on the series, “Understanding financial blessings through Financial Dominion Part 2” Senior Pastor Grace Nation Global and the Generational Prophet of God Dr Chris Okafor Continue on examines What is God purpose for financial Dominion for his People, The Generational Prophet Of God highlighted, that To demonstrate his love and care, meeting the needs of his People.

The Man of God continues that God wants to meet the needs of his People and by showing them love supplying their needs. God wants to Empower his people to be a blessing to the world, which means, until you become a Blessing to the kingdom and his people before you can be called a blessing.

Dr Chris Okafor continue on God purpose for financial Dominion said it is for the spread of his kingdom on earth, it is also to empower people to serve as authority on the earth, while declaring that Financial Dominion is not for show but for kingdom advancement.

In conclusion the Generational Prophet of God Dr Chris Okafor remarked that when we follow God’s Principles,we are privileged to access all his Provisions.

The Divine intervention and Breakthrough Sunday Service on 6 April 2025 held at the international Headquarters of Grace Nation international aka Liberation City in Ojodu Berger Lagos Nigeria witness, the words, deliverance, diverse kind of Healing ,Miracles, Restoration and Solution to all kinds of problems.

Earlier it was a special Birthday Parade by the Nigeria Army Band to Celebrate another years of Grace, Annoiting and God mercy over the Generational Prophet of God Dr Chris Okafor as he marks another glorious Birthday, it was indeed awesome, A special birthday rendetion song was made to celebrate God chosen, Accurate Seer of our time, The Man that sees it all Dr Chris Okafor to the Glory of God.

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From Democracy to Dictatorship: Nigeria’s Descent into Autocracy Since 2015

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From Democracy to Dictatorship: Nigeria’s Descent into Autocracy Since 2015
By George Omagbemi Sylvester

 

Since the All Progressives Congress (APC) took over Nigeria’s leadership in 2015, the country has not only witnessed a decline in democratic values but has steadily descended into a dangerous state of autocracy. What began as a hopeful transition of power soon turned into a nightmare marked by economic collapse, repression of civil liberties, electoral manipulation, and widespread insecurity. This is not a democracy. This is a hijacked republic.

 

A Promise Betrayed


When President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC were elected in 2015, they rode a wave of public discontent with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). Nigerians yearned for transparency, security, and economic reform. But what they got instead was a regime that centralized power, weakened democratic institutions, and silenced dissent with an iron grip.

Buhari’s government—backed by APC party loyalists—pursued an agenda that systematically undermined democracy. Between 2015 and 2023, the government was notorious for disobeying court orders, arresting journalists, intimidating judges, and deploying security agencies to suppress peaceful protests. From the illegal detention of activists like Omoyele Sowore to the bloody repression of the #EndSARS protests, the Buhari era mirrored a military dictatorship cloaked in civilian garb.

 

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The Death of Accountability

Under APC rule, checks and balances became a joke. Institutions that should serve as watchdogs—like the National Assembly and the judiciary—were reduced to rubber stamps. The rule of law was trampled underfoot with alarming regularity. Court rulings, including those from the ECOWAS Court of Justice, were routinely ignored by the presidency and security agencies.

Corruption, the very evil Buhari promised to fight, flourished under his watch. Nigeria dropped significantly on Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index, ranking 154 out of 180 countries in 2021. Multi-billion-naira scandals involving public funds—like the NNPC missing billions, the arms procurement fraud, and the Pandora Papers revelations—were either brushed aside or buried under a mountain of government propaganda.

Electoral Fraud Disguised as Elections
Perhaps the most disturbing assault on democracy under APC has been the bastardization of the electoral process. The 2019 and 2023 general elections were marred by voter suppression, ballot box snatching, intimidation of voters, and open partisanship by security agencies. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), once respected, lost its credibility as electoral umpire.

The 2023 presidential election is a glaring example. Despite promises of electronic transmission of results and transparency, INEC inexplicably abandoned its BVAS and IREV technologies midway through result collation. International observers including the European Union and the National Democratic Institute condemned the elections as lacking transparency, credibility, and fairness.

What kind of democracy exists when the votes of the people are disregarded, and leaders are imposed against the will of the majority?

Suppression of the Press and Civil Society
Freedom of speech and the press, hallmarks of any functioning democracy, have suffered grave attacks since 2015. Journalists were harassed, media houses fined or shut down, and online platforms were targeted. In 2021, the Nigerian government banned Twitter for over seven months simply because citizens used it to criticize the president. This action not only violated the constitution but exposed the government’s deep authoritarian impulse.

Civil society groups and human rights organizations became targets of smear campaigns and regulatory clampdowns. The Buhari regime and its successors sought to monitor, regulate, and restrict non-governmental organizations through draconian laws and policies.

An Economy in Ruins
A thriving economy supports a stable democracy. But under APC rule, Nigeria’s economy collapsed. The country slipped into two recessions in five years, inflation soared, and the naira depreciated to record lows. Insecurity, mismanagement, and policy inconsistencies drove away investors. Unemployment skyrocketed to over 33%, and poverty rose so dramatically that Nigeria became the world’s “poverty capital,” surpassing India.

Fuel subsidy mismanagement, crude oil theft, forex fraud, and mounting debt (now over $110 billion) are all legacies of APC’s gross misgovernance. How can democracy thrive in the face of economic asphyxiation?

Insecurity as a Political Tool
Under APC governance, Nigeria became a killing field. Boko Haram insurgents, Fulani herdsmen, bandits, and unknown gunmen unleashed terror across the nation. From Kaduna to Zamfara, from Plateau to Borno, the blood of innocent Nigerians flowed freely. Rather than confront the crisis with transparency and competence, the government played politics with the lives of its citizens.

Security agencies were often accused of ethnic bias, selective intervention, and extrajudicial killings. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch documented numerous human rights violations by state actors. Thousands died, while millions were displaced—turning Nigeria into a humanitarian disaster zone.

A Stolen Republic
Make no mistake: Nigeria today is not a democracy. It is an autocratic state run by a cartel of politicians who wield power without accountability, enforce obedience through fear, and manipulate institutions to serve personal interests. Elections are rigged rituals. Courts are co-opted. The National Assembly is compromised. And the voices of the people are ignored.

This is not what democracy looks like. This is a betrayal of the Nigerian people.

It is time for Nigerians—home and abroad—to wake up to the brutal truth: our republic has been stolen. Our votes no longer count. Our leaders no longer listen. Our institutions no longer protect us.

The first step to reclaiming our democracy is to recognize its absence. The second is to mobilize civic resistance, strengthen independent media, support judicial independence, and rebuild credible opposition. The Nigerian people must demand electoral reform, transparency, and accountability with louder voices and bolder actions.

If we do nothing, the autocrats will tighten their grip further, and democracy will become a relic of the past. But if we rise, if we organize, and if we persist, we can reclaim the soul of our nation from those who have hijacked it.

From Democracy to Dictatorship: Nigeria's Descent into Autocracy Since 2015 By George Omagbemi Sylvester

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