The Federal Government has clarified that it has not awarded any contract for the reconstruction of the 3rd Mainland Bridge in Lagos, despite claims that Julius Berger estimated the work to cost about ₦6.3 trillion.
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, made this known on Saturday in Abakaliki, when the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mr. Mohammed Idris, paid him a courtesy visit.
Umahi explained that the defects on the 3rd Mainland Bridge and the Carter Bridge were not new, adding that the government had been holding discussions with stakeholders to address the problems.
He noted that the 3rd Mainland Bridge, which is over 50 years old, was assessed in 2013 and again in 2019, with experts consulted on how best to fix the issues.
According to him, while the Carter Bridge also requires rehabilitation, repair work is already ongoing on the Eko Bridge.
“From our findings, it will cost ₦386 billion to rehabilitate the Carter Bridge, but about ₦359 billion to build a new one.
“For the 3rd Mainland Bridge, repair works are estimated at ₦3.86 trillion, while building a new bridge would cost around ₦3.6 trillion.
“These were only estimates we presented to the Federal Executive Council (FEC). No contract has been awarded. Any information outside this is false,” Umahi said.
The minister stressed that the government is still open to hearing from more industry experts who may provide better solutions and lower costs. He added that the key point was for FEC to acknowledge that both bridges have serious structural problems.
He further revealed that the 3rd Mainland Bridge had already been closed to heavy trucks and that the Carter Bridge would also be closed to heavy trucks by September.
Currently, he said, only the Independence Bridge remains open for heavy-duty vehicles moving from Lagos Island to the Mainland, after it was rectified.
Umahi recalled that the Eko Bridge was once completely burnt but noted that rehabilitation work there is still ongoing.
He added that FEC has approved an advertisement calling for experts in bridge construction to bid for a comprehensive rehabilitation plan, including investigation, design, costing, and construction options.
Another option, Umahi said, is to explore public-private partnerships (PPP), where private investors can finance the bridges, toll them, and recover their money.
He concluded by restating that no contracts have been awarded for the reconstruction of either the 3rd Mainland Bridge or the Carter Bridge.
The Lagos Island is linked to the mainland through three major bridges: the Carter Bridge, built in 1901; the 3rd Mainland Bridge, commissioned in phases between 1980 and 1990; and the Eko Bridge, constructed between 1965 and 1975.
