Minister David Umahi says the Third Mainland Bridge rehabilitation will cost N3.6 trillion due to structural damage, including underwater defects and wear

Third Mainland Bridge rehabilitation will cost the Federal Government a staggering N3.6 trillion, according to Minister of Works, David Umahi.

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Speaking during a recent Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Umahi explained that the bridge’s underwater structures are critically damaged, requiring massive investment for restoration.

“Among other emergency jobs that you’ve been seeing in Lagos, we are having a very deep conversation on the Third Mainland Bridge and Carter Bridge,” Umahi said.

The 11.8-kilometre-long bridge, one of the busiest in Africa, was declared irreparable due to its structural condition. A recent inspection revealed worsening underwater damage and critical deterioration.

Barely a week earlier, the government had ordered the closure of the bridge to heavy-duty vehicles as a precautionary measure.

In addition to the Third Mainland Bridge, FEC approved N493 billion for two other major infrastructure projects:

• N359 billion for the reconstruction of Carter Bridge in Lagos
• N134 billion for the upgrade of the 152 km Kano–Katsina Road

The minister cited inflation and economic changes as key drivers for the rise in project costs.

It is worth noting that earlier in March 2025, the Federal Government had announced N21 billion and N25 billion as provisional estimates for the rehabilitation of the Third Mainland and Carter Bridges, respectively.

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The dramatic jump in cost underscores the scale of the challenges facing Nigeria’s aging infrastructure.