FG Awards N545bn New Carter Bridge Project to CCECC Amid Safety Concerns
By Ngozi Okonkwo
The Federal Government has officially handed over the construction of a new Carter Bridge in Lagos State to China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, in a landmark infrastructure project valued at N545 billion.
The handover ceremony, held at Carter Bridge on Lagos Island, was described by the government as part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s broader commitment to safeguarding critical national infrastructure, improving transportation safety, and modernising key economic corridors across the country.
In a statement issued in Abuja by Francis Nwaze, spokesperson to the Minister of Works, David Umahi said the decision to construct an entirely new bridge followed years of alarming structural assessments which revealed worsening defects beneath both Carter Bridge and the Third Mainland Bridge.
According to Umahi, technical investigations into the underwater structural integrity of the bridges first commenced in 2013, with a follow-up assessment conducted in 2019. The findings, he disclosed, showed that the deterioration of critical structural components was progressing at an increasingly dangerous rate.
“The previous administration initiated investigations into the condition of the structural elements beneath the water in 2013, and disturbing defects were identified in both Carter Bridge and the Third Mainland Bridge,” Umahi stated during the ceremony.
He explained that upon assuming office, the current administration immediately engaged geologists, marine engineers, and specialist divers to undertake fresh underwater examinations of the affected bridges. The latest findings reportedly confirmed that some of the supporting piles had shifted from their original pile caps, raising serious safety concerns.
The minister further revealed that the government subsequently convened extensive consultations with local and international bridge experts, engineering stakeholders, and members of the National Assembly to determine the most sustainable solution to the growing structural challenge.
Following detailed technical and financial evaluations, experts reportedly advised the government that rehabilitating the aging Carter Bridge would cost significantly more than constructing a modern replacement bridge with improved structural capacity and long-term durability.
Based on those recommendations, the Federal Government approved the construction of a brand-new Carter Bridge, which officials say will enhance traffic flow, strengthen commuter safety, and support economic activities within Lagos and adjoining commercial hubs.
Umahi reaffirmed the administration’s resolve to prioritise infrastructure renewal nationwide, stressing that the project reflects the government’s determination to prevent future structural failures while expanding Nigeria’s transportation network to meet growing urban demands.
