FG To Spend N3.6tn On Third Mainland Bridge Rehabilitation

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has revealed that the structural rehabilitation of the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos State will cost more than ₦3 trillion.

Speaking after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja, Umahi said underwater and structural assessments of the bridge revealed severe damage caused by illegal sand mining, erosion, and corrosion to its piles and piers.

“The rehabilitation is estimated at ₦3.8 trillion, while a complete rebuild would cost about ₦3.6 trillion,” the minister said.

“We have approval for at least seven specialist contractors to carry out detailed investigations, designs and bids for both rehabilitation and new construction under an EPC+F [Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Financing] arrangement.”

The minister said the findings were similar to those from earlier studies on the Carter Bridge, also in Lagos, which was found to be beyond repair. Umahi said contractor Julius Berger had recommended its full replacement, estimated to cost ₦359 billion.

Under the approvals granted by the FEC, the government will advertise for public-private partnership bids to undertake the projects, while exploring funding discussions with international lenders, including Deutsche Bank.

The Third Mainland Bridge, inaugurated in 1990, is Nigeria’s longest bridge and a critical transport link for Lagos’ estimated 20 million residents.

Its structural issues have been the subject of periodic maintenance works over the years, but 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.”

In addition, FEC also approved N493 billion for two major projects, N359 billion to rebuild Lagos’ Carter Bridge and N134 billion to upgrade the 152 km Kano–Katsina Road.

The minister stressed that the 11.8-kilometre-long Lagos bridge was declared irreparable after structural damage, while the road’s cost rose due to economic changes.

Umahi said, “Among other emergency jobs that you’ve been seeing in Lagos, we are having a very deep conversation on the Third Mainland Bridge and Carter Bridge.”

Recall that in March this year, the Federal Government had announced that Third Mainland and Carter bridges in Lagos rehabilitation will cost N21 billion and N25 billion, respectively.

The Third Mainland and Carter bridges are part of Lagos’ main road network, carrying hundreds of thousands of vehicles daily.

Umahi stated that detailed studies and procurement processes for the Lagos bridge projects would commence immediately, with timelines contingent upon the signing of financing agreements.