Federal Government Reviews ₦359 Billion Carter Bridge & ₦3.6 Trillion Third Mainland Bridge Funding Options

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has authorized the Ministry of Works to explore funding mechanisms for constructing new structures to replace the deteriorating Carter Bridge and Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos, with projected costs of ₦359 billion and ₦3.6 trillion respectively.

Minister of Works, David Umahi, reported after the FEC deliberations that the government is evaluating the feasibility of both Public–Private Partnership (PPP) and Engineering, Procurement, Construction plus Financing (EPC+F) frameworks. These options cover either complete reconstruction or full rehabilitation of the bridges—specifically, ₦387 billion for rehabilitation of Carter Bridge and ₦3.8 trillion for Third Mainland Bridge, where rehabilitation proved less practical compared to new builds.

Umahi emphasized that structural evaluations found both bridges have severe underwater vulnerabilities—stemming from skin-friction foundations lacking solid rock base—and have suffered damage from rust, sand displacement, and illegal extraction. Findings in earlier studies, including those in 2013 and 2019, substantiate these concerns.

Consequently, FEC granted approval for implementing either reconstruction or rehabilitation, leveraging PPP and EPC+F approaches and utilizing a selective procurement process inviting at least seven specialized contractors. Funding discussions are underway with international financiers, including Deutsche Bank.

The minister also announced additional bridge-related approvals: restoration of the fire-damaged Iddo Bridge’s three-span section, Jalingo Bridge in Taraba, Keffi Flyover, Mokwa Bridge in Niger, a bridge on the Abuja–Keffi route, road corridor bridges between Lagos and Ibadan damaged by overloading, and Jebba Bridge.

On the roads front, funding has been revised for the 152 km Kano–Katsina Road: Section One (74.1 km) escalated to ₦68 billion; Section Two (79.5 km) uplifted to ₦96.115 billion—both covered by ₦120 billion in the 2024–2025 budget. Similarly, the 30.2 km Iyin–Ilawe Road in Ekiti State has begun construction for its first 10 km, while the subsequent two 10.1-km segments are valued at ₦16.77 billion and ₦17.275 billion respectively.

Strategically, the government is emphasizing private-sector engagement and alternative financing to handle these massive infrastructural undertakings, since traditional budgetary allocations cannot sustain the scale of these projects with confidence.