By Nkechi Eze
The Federal Government has officially handed over the construction of a new Carter Bridge in Lagos to China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), as part of efforts to safeguard critical infrastructure and ensure public safety.
The handover ceremony, which took place at Carter Bridge, Lagos Island, on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, signals the commencement of a major infrastructure renewal initiative under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In an official signed statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the Honourable Minister of Works on Media, Mr. Francis Nwaze, the Honourable Minister of Works, Senator Engr. David Umahi, CON, said the decision to reconstruct the bridge followed alarming structural findings from years of technical investigations.
Speaking at the event, Senator Umahi revealed that initial underwater assessments conducted in 2013 and later in 2019 exposed serious and worsening defects in both Carter Bridge and the 3rd Mainland Bridge.
“The past administration commissioned investigation of what was happening with the structural elements below the water, and that was in 2013. And the very disturbing defects were noticed in Carter Bridge and 3rd Mainland Bridge,” he said.
He explained that upon assumption of office, the present administration engaged geologists and specialist divers to conduct further underwater evaluations, which confirmed that some of the piles supporting the bridges had shifted from their caps, posing significant structural risks.
“It’s just like the hip of the leg is cut off,” the Minister said while illustrating the severity of the damage.
Following consultations with local and international bridge experts, stakeholders, and members of the National Assembly, Umahi stated that technical recommendations showed that repairing the Carter Bridge would cost nearly twice the amount required to construct a new one.
He added that the Federal Government subsequently approved the construction of a modern bridge, part of which will feature a cable-stayed design to enhance navigation and aesthetics.
“We decided that a section of this Carter Bridge will be a cable bridge. You see the cable bridge we see overseas, very beautiful, and that is to enhance our navigational activities,” he said.
The Minister disclosed that the project, valued at N545 billion, is expected to be completed within 36 months and will be funded through a financing structure comprising 30 percent Federal Government contribution and 70 percent external borrowing.
He further noted that due process was strictly followed in the selection of the contractor, with seven firms invited and six submitting bids.
“The CCECC was technically and commercially most viable. And that’s why the Bureau of Public Procurement recommended them and the Federal Executive Council approved the project,” Umahi stated.
Formally handing over the site, the Minister directed CCECC to immediately mobilize while assuring that the Ministry would conduct monthly monitoring to ensure strict adherence to engineering and safety standards.
Meanwhile, Senator Umahi announced an emergency partial closure of the Eko Bridge following severe structural damage linked to illegal dredging activities.
He disclosed that sand miners struck a pile cap with a barge, leading to the destruction of five supporting piles and causing visible cracks and instability on a section of the bridge.
“When they knocked the pile cap, they broke three piles. And when they were trying to remove the barge, they broke another two,” he said.
As a precautionary measure, the Minister directed that one carriageway of the Eko Bridge be shut down by midnight of Sunday, May 10, 2026, while traffic will continue on the unaffected section.
“We will not allow people to endanger their lives. We are a responsible administration,” he stated.
He disclosed that an emergency engineering intervention has been designed, involving the lifting of an entire bridge span to allow access for repairs, with Buildwell Construction assigned to execute the operation alongside underwater assessments by specialist divers.
The Minister assured that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been fully briefed and directed that the situation be treated with urgency.
“President said I must be in Lagos to examine it and then treat it as an emergency situation. And that is what we are doing,” Umahi said.
He appealed to Lagos residents for patience, assuring that the Federal Government remains committed to protecting lives and preserving critical infrastructure across the country.
“We are solving problems we didn’t create, but that’s why you voted for us, and that we are going to be working day and night,” he added.
