Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has assured residents that the Opebi-Mende-Ojota Link Bridge will be opened to the public before Christmas, despite missing its earlier September completion target.

The governor gave the assurance on Sunday, October 25, 2026, during an inspection of the project to assess progress and determine the reasons for the delay. He said the distinctive steel superstructure on the bridge is about 80 per cent complete.

Sanwo-Olu explained that the complex architectural design — inspired by the area’s traditional cane-weaving heritage — involves installing more than 300 tonnes of steel at heights of up to 25 metres.

Three of the four major steel components have been completed, with work ongoing on the remaining one. LED lighting featuring the colours of Lagos State will also be installed to give the structure an iconic appearance.

He emphasised that the state government prioritises engineering quality and public safety over speed. Additional finishing works, including site cleaning, kerb repainting, restoration of affected areas and landscaping, will be carried out before the bridge opens.

The link bridge, which connects Opebi, Mende and Ojota, is expected to ease traffic congestion and provide an alternative route for motorists in the Ikeja, Maryland and surrounding corridors.

A two-storey building has collapsed in the Fadeyi area of Lagos, resulting in one fatality and the rescue of three people, emergency officials confirmed on Friday morning.

The incident occurred in the early hours, sending residents and nearby traders into panic as the structure suddenly gave way. Rescue teams from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) and other first responders quickly arrived at the scene and began extracting victims from the rubble.

According to preliminary reports, one person was confirmed dead at the site, while three others were pulled out alive and rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment. Their conditions have not yet been disclosed.

Security personnel have cordoned off the area to allow rescue operations to continue and to prevent further access by onlookers. Officials are still assessing whether any other persons remain trapped under the debris.

The cause of the collapse has not been established. Authorities have not ruled out structural failure, but investigations are ongoing.

Further updates are expected as the rescue operation progresses and more details become available from emergency services.

Teachers at the International School, University of Lagos (ISL), on Wednesday commenced a work-to-rule action over unpaid salary arrears, their removal from the university’s payroll, and delays in implementing a National Industrial Court judgment.

The staff are demanding the payment of outstanding Consolidated Tertiary Institutions Teaching Allowance (CONTTA) arrears, as well as arrears from the 25 per cent and 35 per cent salary adjustments approved in 2024. They also want full restoration to the university’s payroll.

Comrade Razak Yusuf, Chairman of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), University of Lagos branch, said the industrial action followed prolonged delays in resolving the teachers’ employment status and financial entitlements.

The teachers had approached the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, which ruled in their favour on May 11, 2026. Despite the judgment, they claim the university has yet to fully restore their names to the payroll or settle outstanding benefits.

Protesters carried placards with messages such as “Equal Work, Equal Rights,” “ISL tutors deserve their due,” and “Other UNILAG staff paid, ISL tutors still owed.” The action disrupted teaching and a scheduled mid-term examination at the school.

The teachers called on the university management to restore the affected staff to the payroll, settle all outstanding financial obligations, and provide a clear payment plan with timelines.

They rejected suggestions that any interim arrangement under the university’s Council protocol amounted to goodwill, insisting they were only seeking recognition of their employment rights.

The development continues a pattern of industrial disputes at the University of Lagos over salary and allowance issues.