Umahi: N3.8trn required to rehabilitate third mainland bridge
The federal government has announced that an estimated N3.8 trillion will be necessary for the rehabilitation of the Third Mainland Bridge, following serious underwater structural issues that were discovered.
David Umahi, the Minister of Works, made this statement after a federal executive council (FEC) meeting chaired by President Bola Tinubu in Abuja.
Umahi explained that the findings were based on underwater assessments conducted in 2013 and 2019 on both the Third Mainland and Carter bridges in Lagos.
The assessments revealed significant damage to the bridges’ substructures, attributed to illegal sand mining, erosion, and corrosion of piles and piers.
“For the Third Mainland Bridge, when we did a pro rata of what is to be done, if we are to rehabilitate, it came to about N3.8 trillion and if we are to do a new construction, it came to about N3.6 trillion,” Umahi stated.
He indicated that this proposal follows a number of emergency interventions undertaken on bridges throughout the nation. The minister added that the FEC has approved two key initiatives under the EPC+F (Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Financing) framework.
This includes involving no less than seven specialist contractors to conduct comprehensive investigations, designs, and to bid for either the reconstruction of new bridges or the rehabilitation of existing ones.
In addition, Umahi noted that the council has given the green light for public-private partnerships (PPP), opening opportunities for the private sector to engage in rehabilitation projects.
The approvals extend to several other bridge interventions, including repairs to the Jalingo bridge in Taraba, the Ido Bridge in Oyo—which was damaged by fire and needs three spans removed—as well as the Keffi Flyover in Nasarawa, Mokwa bridge in Niger, and a bridge on the Abuja-Kogi road.
“Bridges between Lagos and Ibadan, the Jebba bridge in Kwara state, and the Itokin-Ikorodu bridge in Lagos will also undergo assessments,” Umahi added. “These emergency works will be articulated and forwarded to Mr. President for approval through the minister of finance.”
Earlier in the meeting, Umahi revealed that the council approved a total of N493 billion for two major infrastructure projects, which include upgrading the 152-kilometre Kano-Katsina road and constructing a new Carter Bridge in Lagos state.
Source: TheCable
