FEC Approves N548.98bn for Complete Demolition and Reconstruction of Lagos Carter Bridge

The Federal Executive Council has approved the complete demolition and reconstruction of the Carter Bridge in Lagos at a cost of N548.98 billion, following multiple technical assessments confirming the iconic structure has deteriorated beyond repair.

The Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, announced the approval on Thursday after the council’s meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. He explained that independent investigations conducted in 2013, 2019, and a more recent review under the current administration through Julius Berger all reached the same conclusion that the bridge’s underwater piles and pile caps had deteriorated at what he described as a “geometrical progression.”

“We convocated a stakeholders’ engagement, and all the technical experts all over the country, and even internationally, all agreed that we could not redeem Carter Bridge, and it has to be completely demolished and rebuilt,” Umahi told journalists.

The minister noted that the decision followed rigorous procurement and design processes, with the contract awarded to China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation after a competitive bidding that involved Julius Berger, CCECC, CBC, and China Harbour High Tech.

Umahi disclosed that the redesigned bridge would be significantly longer and structurally upgraded to ease traffic congestion. The total length will increase from 1.525 kilometres to 1.93 kilometres, with the addition of a flyover ramp aimed at eliminating longstanding bottlenecks that have plagued the area.

“We’ve gone through rigorous procurement and design. The initial total length of that bridge was 1.525 kilometres, with three lanes, dualised. We have now increased the project to 1.93 kilometres because we increased a flyover ramp, so that the bottleneck that is usually there will no longer exist. The total contract sum approved is N548.98bn,” he stressed.

The minister further stated that the new bridge will feature a navigational waterway of 105 metres by two, enhancing transportation efficiency across the Lagos Lagoon.

The Federal Executive Council also separately approved N24.89 billion for underwater repair works on the Third Mainland Bridge, another key route in Lagos, to be handled by Julius Berger.

The Carter Bridge, built in 1901 during the British colonial era, is one of Lagos’s oldest and most historically significant bridges, serving as a critical link between Lagos Island and the mainland. Named after Sir Gilbert Thomas Carter, a former governor of the Colony of Lagos, the bridge was previously dismantled, redesigned, and rebuilt between 1970 and 1973 by the military government of General Yakubu Gowon.

Its deterioration has been widely attributed to age, heavy traffic load, and the corrosive effects of its saltwater environment on its foundational infrastructure. Over the years, authorities had periodically restricted heavy vehicle access and carried out patch repairs, but the latest assessments confirmed that full reconstruction is the only viable option to ensure safety and long-term structural integrity.

Umahi noted that the project aims to eliminate long-standing traffic bottlenecks and significantly improve connectivity within Lagos and surrounding areas upon completion. He assured that the government would continue to prioritise quality and value for money in executing infrastructure projects across the country.