- Minister of Works says erosion and illegal sand mining have compromised underwater piles
- Rehabilitation projected at ₦3.8 trillion, while a full rebuild could cost ₦3.6 trillion
- The government seeks international funding, including from Deutsche Bank, for urgent works
Nigeria’s Third Mainland Bridge, the longest bridge in West Africa and a lifeline for millions of commuters in Lagos, is facing severe underwater structural damage, according to the Minister of Works, David Umahi.
The findings have triggered urgent government action and projected repair costs of approximately ₦3.8 trillion, a figure that woudl appear to rival the cost of completely rebuilding the bridge.
Speaking after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja on Thursday, August 14, Umahi revealed that the deterioration stems from erosion, corrosion, and years of neglect, worsened by illegal sand mining in the surrounding waters.
“The underwater piles have been compromised. This is a national emergency,” Umahi said.
Third Mainland Bridge rebuild may be cheaper than repairs
Umahi presented two options: a complete rehabilitation at ₦3.8 trillion or a full rebuild at ₦3.6 trillion.
“In the long term, reconstruction might prove more economical and sustainable,” he told reporters.
The government plans to engage seven specialist contractors through an EPC+F model — covering engineering, procurement, construction, and financing. Public–private partnerships and international lenders, including Deutsche Bank, are being considered to fund the project.
Third Mainland: Other infrastructure at risk
The FEC also approved ₦359 billion for the replacement of the Carter Bridge, which officials say is beyond repair, and ₦493 billion for the upgrade of the Kano–Katsina Road. Additional emergency repairs have been earmarked for bridges in Keffi, Mokwa, Jebba, and other key transit points nationwide.
Lifeline Under Threat
Opened in 1990, the Third Mainland Bridge spans nearly 12 kilometers, linking Lagos Island to the mainland. Any prolonged closure could cripple economic activity in Nigeria’s commercial capital, where traffic gridlock is already a daily ordeal.
Government engineers are expected to begin detailed inspections within weeks, with rehabilitation or reconstruction scheduled to commence once funding is secured.
Timeline of the Lagos Third Mainland Bridge
- 1976 — First phase of the bridge is commissioned under the military government of Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo.
- 1980 — Construction of the second phase begins during the Shehu Shagari administration.
- 1990 — The Bridge is completed and opened by President Ibrahim Babangida, becoming the longest in West Africa.
- 2006–2008 — First major repair works carried out due to wear and tear from heavy traffic.
- 2012–2013 — The Government conducts further maintenance and partial closures to strengthen expansion joints.
- 2020–2021 — Extended closures for resurfacing and underwater inspections; engineers warn of deepening corrosion.
- 2025 — Federal Government declares underwater piles compromised; cost of repairs or rebuild runs into trillions of naira.
Lagos introduces new systems, fines to tackle traffic violations
Earlier, TheRadar reported that the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation, in partnership with Huawei Technologies, deployed four new Intelligent Transport System (ITS) sites aimed at monitoring and detecting speeding, as well as managing traffic flow.
This was disclosed during a press briefing by the Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, where he explained that the new installations would supplement the existing Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras and other traffic management technologies.
