The federal government has officially handed over the construction of a new Carter Bridge in Lagos to China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, also known as CCECC, in a major infrastructure project valued at N545 billion. The move is part of efforts by the administration of Bola Tinubu to improve public safety and protect critical national infrastructure. The handover ceremony took place at Carter Bridge on Lagos Island, where the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, explained that the decision followed years of investigations into the structural condition of both Carter Bridge and the Third Mainland Bridge.
According to Umahi, underwater inspections carried out as far back as 2013 and later in 2019 revealed serious structural concerns beneath the bridges. He said engineers discovered that the defects had continued to worsen over time in what experts described as “geometrical progression.”
“The past administration commissioned an investigation of what was happening with the structural elements below the water, and that was in 2013. And the very disturbing defects were noticed in Carter Bridge and 3rd Mainland Bridge,” Umahi stated. The minister added that after the current administration came into office, more detailed underwater investigations were carried out by specialist divers and geologists.
The findings reportedly showed that some of the bridge piles had shifted away from their pile caps, raising concerns about long term safety. Umahi explained that consultations were later held with local and foreign bridge experts, members of the National Assembly and other stakeholders to determine the best solution. According to him, technical assessments showed that rehabilitating the old bridge would cost nearly twice the amount required to build a new one. “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. The new bridge is expected to feature a modern cable stayed design aimed at improving navigation and giving Lagos a more modern transport structure. Umahi also disclosed that the project is expected to last 36 months.
Funding will reportedly come through a combination of federal government contributions and external financing arrangements. The minister stated that six firms participated in the bidding process before CCECC emerged as the preferred contractor after meeting technical and commercial requirements approved by the Bureau of Public Procurement and the Federal Executive Council. The Carter Bridge remains one of the oldest and busiest transport links in Lagos, connecting Lagos Island to the mainland and serving thousands of commuters daily.
