The Federal Government has approved the construction of a new Carter Bridge in Lagos at an estimated cost of N545 billion, as part of efforts to address long-standing structural issues affecting major bridges in the state.
The contract was awarded to China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation� after what officials described as a competitive bidding process involving both local and international firms.
The official handover ceremony took place on Wednesday at the Carter Bridge site on Lagos Island, where the Minister of Works, David Umahi, explained that the project became necessary following years of technical investigations which revealed severe underwater structural damage on both Carter Bridge and the Third Mainland Bridge.
According to a statement issued by the minister’s Senior Special Assistant on Media, Francis Nwaze, the reconstruction project is expected to last 36 months. Funding for the project will come through a combination of 30 per cent Federal Government counterpart financing and 70 per cent external borrowing.
Umahi disclosed that previous investigations carried out in 2013 and 2019 had already raised concerns about the structural condition of the bridges, but fresh assessments conducted under the current administration revealed that the deterioration had become worse.
“The defects were increasing at a geometrical progression,” the minister said.
He explained that underwater inspections carried out by specialist divers and geologists showed that some of the bridge piles had shifted away from their pile caps, creating major structural risks.
“When we went deeper with specialist divers and geologists, we discovered that some of the piles had moved away from their pile caps. It’s just like the hip of the leg is cut off. That is the level of damage we are dealing with,” Umahi stated.
The minister added that after consulting engineering experts, the Federal Government concluded that rebuilding the bridge would be more practical and cost-effective than rehabilitation.
“Experts advised us that the cost of rehabilitation was almost double the cost of a new structure. So we took a decision to build a brand-new Carter Bridge that will serve Lagos better and safer,” he said.
Umahi also revealed that the new bridge design would include a modern cable-stayed section aimed at improving navigation and giving the structure a more modern appearance.
“Part of this new Carter Bridge will be a cable-stayed structure. You see those beautiful bridges overseas. This will enhance navigation and also give Lagos a world-class infrastructure,” he added.
The minister confirmed that six firms participated in the bidding process before the contract was eventually awarded to CCECC.
“The CCECC was technically and commercially the most viable. That is why the Bureau of Public Procurement recommended them and the Federal Executive Council approved the award,” he said.
Umahi formally handed over the site to the contractor and directed immediate mobilisation for work to begin.
In a related development, the minister also announced the emergency closure of one carriageway of Eko Bridge following severe structural damage allegedly caused by illegal dredging activities around the bridge.
According to him, barges involved in sand mining operations struck some of the bridge’s pile caps, damaging several supporting piles.
“When they knocked the pile cap, they broke three piles. When they were trying to remove the barge, they broke another two. That section is now dangerously weak,” Umahi said.
As a safety measure, one section of the bridge will be closed from midnight on Sunday, May 10, 2026, while the other carriageway remains open to traffic.
“We will not allow people to endanger lives. This is a responsible government, and we are taking emergency action to prevent disaster,” the minister said.
He assured residents that emergency engineering repairs had already commenced and appealed for patience from commuters, stressing that the temporary inconveniences are necessary to secure the long-term safety of critical infrastructure across Lagos.
