Tinubu’s govt to repair Lagos bridge with N17bn

The President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government has reduced the rehabilitation cost of the fire-damaged Iddo Bridge in Lagos from N27 billion to N17 billion, following successful negotiations with the contractor, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc.

Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, disclosed this during a site visit to the bridge on Friday, where he provided updates on the status of the project.

“Julius Berger quoted, I think, N27 billion or thereabout, but after much negotiation and discussion, we now arrived at N17 billion,” Umahi told reporters.

He praised the construction company for its collaborative approach, noting a shift in attitude under its new leadership.

Describing the firm as a “born-again Berger,” the minister said the cost reduction was made possible through the “understanding and openness of its new managing director.”

Umahi emphasized that the Ministry of Works is prioritizing transparency and cost-efficiency, adding that contractors must adhere strictly to the ministry’s guidelines.

The scope of the project, initially pegged as a basic repair job, has now been upgraded to a more extensive intervention due to the severity of the damage.

The minister raised alarm over the deteriorating state of the bridge, attributing the decline to prolonged neglect, misuse, and the presence of unauthorized occupants beneath the structure.

According to him, the fire that compromised three spans of the bridge was caused by illegal settlers who had constructed makeshift dwellings and handled flammable materials in the area.

“They brought in chemicals, built block walls and set up homes. Then, they set up fire that burnt the bridge and damaged three spans. Now we are going to fix the bridge completely,” Umahi explained.

He said the bridge’s clearance, currently at about 4.5 metres, had also been compromised by repeated collisions from large vehicles and unlawful activities beneath the structure. Going forward, the ministry plans to increase the clearance height to at least 5.6 metres.

Umahi assured that the Federal Ministry of Works is committed to fully restoring the bridge to ensure public safety and prevent future occurrences.

On the question of displaced individuals, he stated unequivocally that the area beneath the bridge will no longer serve as shelter.
“Nobody will stay under Iddo Bridge again as long as I remain the Minister of Works.

“The lives of the people are more important,” he said.