Works - News Agency Of Nigeria

Tosin Kolade
Aug, Sat, 2025

3rd Mainland Bridge contract not yet awarded- FG

By Collins Yakubu-Hammer

The Federal Government says the contract for the reconstruction of the 3rd Mainland Bridge in Lagos, estimated by Julius Berger to cost 6.3 trillion naira, has not been awarded.

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, stated this when the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, paid him a courtesy visit on Saturday in Abakaliki.

Umahi said defects on the 3rd Mainland Bridge and the Carter Bridge were not new, noting that he had been engaging stakeholders on the matter.

He explained that the 3rd Mainland Bridge, which is over 50 years old, was assessed in 2013 and 2019, and that deliberations were held with experts on how to address identified issues.

The minister added that while the Carter Bridge also required rehabilitation, works on the Eko Bridge were ongoing.

“From our findings, to rehabilitate the Carter Bridge could cost us N386 billion, but to do a brand new bridge would be at about N359 billion.

“And for the 3rd Mainland Bridge, to repair it will cost us N3.86 trillion, but to construct a new 3rd Mainland Bridge will cost us N3.6 trillion.

“Now, that is the findings we took to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) Meeting. We did not take it there for contract to be awarded, we only brought estimated findings as done by Julius Berger Ltd.

“Therefore, no contract has been awarded for the reconstruction of 3rd Mainland Bridge and Carter Bridge. Any information aside this is not correct.

“And we believe strongly that if we expose these findings to more industry experts or players, they may come with a better solution and a better cost too.

“But the important thing is for FEC to note that we have a problem with the two bridges; so, nobody has awarded any contract to that regard,” Umahi stressed.

He disclosed that the federal government had closed the 3rd Mainland Bridge to heavy trucks and would also close the Carter Bridge to heavy trucks by Sept.

According to him, the only bridge now open for movement of heavy-duty vehicles from Lagos Island to the Mainland is the Independence Bridge, which he said had been rectified.

Umahi recalled that the Eko Bridge was once completely burnt, but that rehabilitation works on it were currently ongoing.

“Now, for the way forward, FEC approved that there should be an advertisement for experts in bridge construction to bid with quotation to do comprehensive rehabilitation of the two bridges.

“We want them to do the investigation, the design, costing, and submit, or tell us the cost of constructing new ones.

“Another option is that, we are also opening it to public private partnership for the private sector to come and get involved, do the bridges, toll it and recover their money.

“So nobody has awarded contract for the reconstruction of 3rd Mainland Bridge for N3.6 trillion or contract for the Carter Bridge,” Umahi reiterated.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the three major bridges connecting Lagos Island to the Mainland are the Carter Bridge, built in 1901; the 3rd Mainland Bridge, whose first phase was commissioned in 1980 by President Shehu Shagari and completed in 1990 by Gen. Ibrahim Babangida.

The third is the Eko Bridge, which was constructed in phases between 1965 and 1975. (NAN)

Edited by Abdulfatai Beki/Tosin Kolade

Adebiyi tasks engineers on professionalism, excellence

Tosin Kolade
Jun, Wed, 2025

General News

Adebiyi tasks engineers on professionalism, excellence

By Angela Atabo

Mr Olofunsho Adebiyi, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Works, has called on engineers to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and excellence in the execution of road projects in Nigeria.

Adebiyi made the call at a three-day training for Highway Engineers, Technologists and Technicians from the North-Central region, on Tuesday in Abuja.

The permanent secretary emphasised the crucial role engineers play in delivering quality infrastructure that meets international standards.

He stressed the need for excellence and professionalism in the discharge of the mandates of the ministry.

Adebiyi noted the importance of capacity building and training for staff members to improve their skills and knowledge the delivery of high-quality jobs.

“Excellence is not something one jumps at, you must work to achieve it.

“So, let us go back and look at the highway rudiments faithfully; let us ask questions where we don’t know, in order to get it right.

“Let us sit down and do what we are trained to do, because if you successfully supervised a project and it is completed, there is a measure of pride a sense of fulfillment you feel,”he said.

Adebiyi encouraged the engineers to uphold the ethics of their profession, build their knowledge and operate in tandem with international standards.

The permanent secretary, who advised engineers against stagnation, urged them to move round and build knowledge.

“There is a system error we have observed, where an officer is recruited in Sokoto and has been there all his life.

“It is not correct. We want to make sure that we post members of staff across the nation to have a comprehensive experience because the soil texture in Bayelsa is totally different from the soil texture in Sokoto,”he said.

Adebiyi explained that the ministry would start transferring members of staff across departments to gain more knowledge in order to function optimally when they become senior officers.

He also disclosed that promotion would be based on performance management system and called on members of staff of the ministry to up their game.

Earlier, Mr Yiltony David, the Director of Highway Planning and Development of the ministry, said that the training was timely.

He said that the training would stimulate quality work and high productivity from engineers in providing services to Nigerians.

“So we expect that from here we will see engineers who are more committed to their jobs.

“People who see what they are doing as service to Nigeria, those who see it as an opportunity to add value to this country,” he said

Also speaking, Mr Femi Oyekanmi, who retired from the ministry, stressed the need for mentorship, adding that retirees should be mentors to those who are still in service.

Oyekanmi, who decried the dearth of professionals in the ministry, called on the Federal Government to employ more hands.

“The engineers in the ministry are overwhelmed, there is need to recruit more engineers and technical assistants for the ministry,” he said. (NAN)

Edited by Polycarp Auta