Lagos, Nigeria – E be like say Naija government don gree say Third Mainland Bridge need major makeover. After dem spend N21 billion for emergency repairs last year, wey no sabi mumu, the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, don announce say dem don allocate fresh N3.8 trillion to fix the bridge wey dey cause worry.
Umahi talk am for Abuja after Federal Executive Council meeting say dem do underwater and structural assessments wey show say illegal sand mining, erosion and corrosion don dey fight the bridge like say na wrestling match. He come explain say, “If na rehabilitation wey we wan do, na N3.8 trillion e go cost, but if na to rebuild from scratch, na N3.6 trillion we still dey talk.” (Chai! Who dem go take collect all dis money?)
Na wetin we expect for road matter we go dey spend small money? The man talk say dem don approve at least seven specialist contractors to come run detailed investigations and prepare design wey go fit carry the job. Dem dey come fit perform for EPC+F (Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Financing) arrangement. Talk about responsibility, eh? Na wetin we dey find!
Umahi come share more gist about Carter Bridge wey dey vex as well, wey dem find say e don pass repair. Julius Berger, the contractor wey sabi work, don recommend say make dem just rebuild am from ground for around N359 billion. E be like say na joke na we dey play with all dis figures o!
For those wey wan carry their hand up, the government go begin advertise for public-private partnership bids to carry out all this work. Dem dey follow sharp-sharp talk with international lenders like Deutsche Bank to see how dem fit take fund am. E be like say na money matter we be dey talk since.
As e don dey happen, last November 2023, the Federal Government don team up with Lagos State Government for N21.074 billion emergency repairs on the bridge. Dem carry out work like resurfacing, guardrail change, new asphalt, install street lights wey go shine shine at night, and lane markings. (Nothing wey no fit sweet person when dem fit do small lift like this!)
Umahi still dey explain say dem need this whole upgrade to restore the bridge’s integrity, as old layers of asphalt don turn everything to work of art wey dey heavy for the bridge. Since e don de inaugurated for 1990, Third Mainland Bridge na the longest bridge for Nigeria and na serious transport link for nearly 20 million Lagosians. (This bridge no be just road, na lifeline wey join people without helmet!)
