Umahi, six months ago, said the bridge could no longer be salvaged following an extensive inspection of its underdeck.
By Kehinde Okeowo
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has announced that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the demolition and complete reconstruction of the Carter Bridge in Lagos State.
He confirmed this on Wednesday following a cabinet meeting chaired by President Bola Tinubu at the State House in Abuja.
The Carter Bridge is one of Lagos’s busiest roadways, connecting Lagos Island with the mainland and serving as a key route for daily commuters and commercial traffic.
Approximately six months ago, during an extensive inspection of the bridge’s underdeck, Umahi noted that the critical infrastructure could no longer be salvaged.
At the time, he stated: “What we did today is to see whether we can salvage the ramps so that we cut down the cost and the time of construction.”
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However, while announcing the approval for the demolition and rebuilding of the bridge, Umahi noted that the FEC also approved £5.6 billion (N5.6 billion) to hire specialised engineering consultants for the design and cost assessment of the new structure.
“Carter Bridge can no longer be rehabilitated; it must be taken down and rebuilt entirely,” Umahi said, adding that the decision follows extensive consultations with stakeholders and had previously received backing from the council in an earlier session.
The Minister also revealed that the Federal Government approved six additional large-scale infrastructure projects during Wednesday’s meeting, including major highway upgrades and reconstructions across multiple geopolitical zones.
He further stated that the administration aims to complete and commission at least four projects per zone by 15 May.
“These are substantial infrastructure initiatives, not mere stopgap measures,” he emphasised.
