₦3.8 Trillion required to fix Third Mainland Bridge’s severe underwater damage
Nigeria’s iconic Third Mainland Bridge is in dire need of extensive rehabilitation, with an estimated cost of N3.8 trillion, following the discovery of severe underwater structural issues.
This alarming revelation was made by the Minister of Works, David Umahi, on Wednesday after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja, presided over by President Bola Tinubu.
Umahi disclosed that underwater assessments conducted in 2013 and 2019 on both the Carter and Third Mainland bridges in Lagos revealed significant damage to their substructures. The minister attributed this deterioration to illegal sand mining, erosion, and corrosion affecting the piles and piers supporting the bridges.
“For the Third Mainland Bridge, when we did a pro rata of what is to be done, if we are to rehabilitate, it came to about N3.8 trillion and if we are to do a new construction, it came to about N3.6 trillion,” Umahi stated, highlighting the massive financial implications of the necessary repairs.
The minister explained that this proposal stems from a series of emergency interventions already carried out on various bridges across the country. To address the critical state of these vital infrastructures, the FEC has approved a dual approach under the Engineering, Procurement, Construction, and Financing (EPC+F) framework. This will allow at least seven specialist contractors to conduct comprehensive investigations, detailed designs, and then bid for either the reconstruction of brand new bridges or the extensive rehabilitation of the existing Carter and Third Mainland bridges.
In a move to foster private sector involvement, the council also gave its nod for the advertisement of public-private partnerships (PPP), inviting private entities to bid for the rehabilitation projects.
The approvals extend beyond Lagos, encompassing other critical bridge interventions nationwide. These include the Jalingo bridge in Taraba, the Ido Bridge in Oyo (which requires the removal of three burnt spans), the Keffi Flyover in Nasarawa, Mokwa bridge in Niger, and a damaged bridge on the Abuja-Kogi road. Additionally, bridges connecting Lagos and Ibadan, the Jebba bridge in Kwara state, and the Itokin-Ikorodu bridge in Lagos are slated for inspection and necessary works.
Umahi confirmed that these emergency works will be compiled and forwarded to President Tinubu for approval through the Minister of Finance. This development follows earlier approvals by the council for two major infrastructure projects totaling N493 billion: the upgrade of the 152-kilometre Kano-Katsina road and the construction of a new Carter Bridge in Lagos State.
The substantial cost and the nature of the damage underscore the urgent need for intervention to ensure the safety and longevity of Nigeria’s critical bridge infrastructure.
