Federal Government Awards ?545bn Carter Bridge Reconstruction, Orders Partial Closure of Eko Bridge

The Federal Government has officially handed over the ?545 billion reconstruction project for the Carter Bridge in Lagos State, citing serious structural defects discovered beneath the bridge and the nearby 3rd Mainland Bridge.

The handover ceremony took place at Carter Bridge on Wednesday, where the Minister of Works, David Umahi, explained that years of underwater structural investigations revealed worsening damage to key support components of the bridges.

According to the minister, the first major assessment was conducted in 2013, followed by another in 2019, with both reports showing rapidly increasing defects beneath the structures.

Umahi stated that after the current administration assumed office, geologists and specialist divers were engaged to carry out fresh underwater inspections, which confirmed that some of the bridge piles had shifted away from their pile caps.

Describing the severity of the damage, the minister likened the situation to “a hip bone being cut off,” warning that urgent intervention had become unavoidable.

He disclosed that experts, lawmakers, and international bridge specialists were consulted before the government concluded that reconstructing the bridge would be more cost-effective than carrying out extensive repairs.

Part of the new Carter Bridge project will include a modern cable-stayed section designed to improve water navigation and enhance the aesthetics of the structure.

The reconstruction is expected to last 36 months and will be financed through a combination of Federal Government funding and external borrowing. Umahi said the Federal Government would provide 30 per cent of the funding, while the remaining 70 per cent would come from external sources.

The minister also noted that the contract was awarded after a competitive bidding process involving seven firms, with China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CECC) emerging as the most technically and commercially viable bidder following recommendations from the Bureau of Public Procurement and approval by the Federal Executive Council.

Meanwhile, Umahi announced the emergency closure of one carriageway of the Eko Bridge following severe structural damage allegedly caused by illegal sand mining activities around the bridge.

According to him, dredgers operating near the bridge accidentally struck one of the supporting pile caps with a barge, destroying several structural piles and weakening parts of the bridge.

The minister revealed that visible cracks and structural instability have already developed, prompting the government to shut down one side of the bridge beginning midnight on Sunday, May 10, 2026, while the unaffected carriageway remains open to traffic.

Umahi stated that emergency repairs would involve lifting an entire bridge span to expose and repair the damaged underwater sections. He added that Buildwell Construction, known for previous bridge repair operations in Lagos, would handle the emergency intervention alongside specialist divers conducting underwater investigations.

The minister assured residents that President Bola Tinubu had been fully briefed on the matter and directed that urgent action be taken to prevent further risks to public safety.