By Jemimah Wellington, JKNewsMedia Correspondent
THE STRUCTURAL rehabilitation of the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos State will require more than N3trillion, according to the Minister of Works, David Umahi.
Addressing journalists after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja, Umahi said underwater and structural assessments revealed severe deterioration of the bridge’s piles and piers caused by illegal sand mining, erosion, and corrosion.
He said the rehabilitation was estimated at ₦3.8 trillion, while a complete rebuild would cost about ₦3.6 trillion.
The minister confirmed that the FEC had approved the engagement of at least seven specialist contractors to carry out detailed investigations, designs, and bids for both rehabilitation and potential new construction under an Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Financing (EPC+F) arrangement.
Umahi noted that the findings mirrored earlier assessments on the Carter Bridge, also in Lagos, which contractor Julius Berger had deemed beyond repair.
A full replacement of that bridge is estimated to cost N359billion, he said.
Under the FEC approvals, the government will invite public-private partnership bids for the projects while pursuing funding discussions with international lenders, including Deutsche Bank.
The Third Mainland Bridge, inaugurated in 1990, is Nigeria’s longest bridge and serves as a vital transport link for Lagos’ estimated 20 million residents.
Although the bridge has undergone periodic maintenance over the years, Umahi said recent inspections showed more extensive damage than previously recorded.
“The underwater problems are compounded by decades of neglect and human activities that have undermined the bridge’s substructure,” he said.
“We cannot delay. If we decide on rehabilitation, it will require huge resources and specialised engineering. If we opt for a new build, it is slightly less costly but still a massive undertaking.”
Umahi also said the FEC approved emergency interventions for other damaged bridges nationwide, including the Jalingo Bridge in Taraba State, the fire-damaged Ido Bridge, the Keffi Flyover in Nasarawa State, the Mokwa Bridge in Niger State, a bridge on the Abuja-Kogi route, bridges on the Lagos-Ibadan corridor damaged by vehicles, the Jebba Bridge in Kwara State, and the Itokin-Ikorodu Bridge in Lagos.
“These emergency works will be documented and forwarded to the President for approval through the Ministry of Finance,” he said.
In addition, the FEC allocated N493 billion for two major infrastructure projects: the upgrade of the Kano-Katsina Road and the construction of a new Carter Bridge.
The 152-kilometre Kano–Katsina Road, previously split into two contracts, has undergone significant cost revisions.
Section One, awarded in 2013 for N14 billion and later revised to N24billion, will now cost N68billion.
Section Two, awarded in 2019 for ₦29 billion and revised to ₦46 billion, has been updated to ₦N66.115billion.
Umahi said N6billion and N34billion had been allocated in the 2024 and 2025 budgets, respectively, for Section One, while Section Two would receive N80billion over the same period.
He stressed that bridge and road infrastructure are critical to economic growth and national connectivity, adding that the government will adopt EPC+F and PPP models to reduce dependence on budgetary allocations for large-scale works.
“These are not projects that can be funded solely from the federal budget, given their magnitude,” Umahi said.
“We are pursuing partnerships that will bring in private capital while ensuring that the government retains oversight and quality control.”
Umahi confirmed that detailed studies and procurement processes for the Lagos bridge projects would begin immediately, with timelines dependent on the finalisation of financing agreements.
