15/08/2025
The Nigerian Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, has revealed that the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos requires urgent attention due to significant underwater structural issues. The damage, attributed to illegal sand mining, erosion, and corrosion of the bridge's piles and piers, poses serious safety concerns [1] .
Umahi stated that rehabilitating the bridge is estimated to cost ₦3.8 trillion, while constructing a new bridge would cost about ₦3.6 trillion [2] . The Federal Executive Council has approved plans to engage at least seven specialist contractors for comprehensive investigations, designs, and bids for both rehabilitation and potential reconstruction under an Engineering, Procurement, Construction, and Financing (EPC+F) arrangement.
Given the bridge's critical role in connecting Lagos Island to the mainland and its daily use by hundreds of thousands of commuters, addressing these structural issues is a top priority for the government.