Federal Government Plans to Demolish and Reconstruct Carter Bridge in Lagos for Over N5 Billion

The Federal Executive Council (FEC), under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, has agreed to demolish the existing Carter Bridge in Lagos, allocating over N5 billion for its reconstruction.

This announcement was made by the Minister of Works, David Umahi, on Wednesday, March 4.

Umahi confirmed that the President also approved a number of significant road projects throughout the nation.

He indicated that a total of six major initiatives received the green light from the council.

One of the projects includes the completion of the Suleja-Minna Road, which was initially awarded to Salini Construction Company but was terminated due to unsatisfactory performance.

According to Umahi, only approximately 10 kilometers of the project had been executed before the cancellation of the contract.

Following a review of the project, the government has decided to move forward with completing the remaining 71 kilometers of the dual carriageway. Notably, one section of the road has been awarded to China Geo-Engineering Corporation (CGC) for N91 billion, with the other carriageway having secured clearance from the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP).

He stated that President Tinubu has mandated the use of reinforced concrete for the road's construction to ensure durability.

Additionally, Umahi announced that the FEC approved N5.6 billion for the design and costing of a new Carter Bridge project in Lagos, emphasizing that the current bridge is beyond rehabilitation.

He affirmed that the government plans to demolish the existing structure and erect a new one based on the findings of technical evaluations.

"Engagements with stakeholders and technical assessments indicated that the Carter Bridge cannot be salvaged. It must be torn down and replaced with a brand-new structure," Umahi conveyed.

He added that Advanced Engineering Consultants has been commissioned to carry out the complete design and cost assessment ahead of the construction procurement process.

In relation to another initiative, Umahi disclosed that the FEC approved a revised scope for the Kano-Kongolam Road, following its initial award as a tax credit project in 2022.

Covering 132 kilometers across Kano, Jigawa, and Katsina states, the project, which was originally designed as an asphalt road, will now be redeveloped into a three-lane concrete road featuring solar-powered streetlights and CCTV systems to enhance security.

The revised cost of the project is estimated at N334 billion.