The Federal Government has reduced the timeline for completing the reconstruction of Lagos’ Carter Bridge from the initial 36 months to 24 months, citing the bridge’s importance to the city’s transportation network.

Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, announced the revised timeline on Monday while inspecting the ongoing reconstruction of the Carter and Iddo Bridges in Lagos.

Umahi was accompanied by the Minister of State for Works, Mohammed Goronyo, and members of the National Assembly, including the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Works, Akin Alabi.

The minister explained that the decision to fast-track the project was influenced by the strategic role Carter Bridge plays in vehicular movement across Lagos.

The 1.58-kilometre bridge has served Lagos for more than six decades, but inadequate maintenance over the years has contributed to significant structural deterioration.

“Carter Bridge has stayed for over 60 to 70 years with no maintenance.

“The lifespan of every bridge is about 50 years, and what we found out from the underwater survey is that a lot of the piles had detached from the pile caps.

“It is like having the leg removed from the hip. There was also a lot of rust within the piles, while scouring and illegal sand mining contributed to the failure of the bridge,” Umahi said.

The minister said a new design had been completed for the reconstruction, with additional engineering features aimed at improving traffic movement and protecting the structure from future damage.

The redesigned bridge will include more ramps to ease congestion, while one carriageway will be built above the other.

A cable-stayed section will also be incorporated to provide adequate clearance for navigation.

“Carter Bridge is 1.58km but you are going to see aesthetics, engineering and innovation.

“We are going to be flying one carriageway over the other, increasing the number of ramps to decongest traffic towards the ramp sections.

“We are also having a cable bridge to contain the 105 spans for navigational activities. It is going to be beautiful,” Umahi said.

According to Umahi, China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC), the contractor handling the project, has completed about 15 per cent of the preliminary works.

The completed preparatory activities include securing a project yard and constructing access roads, while piling work is expected to commence before the end of the week.

The minister also disclosed that additional protection measures, including gabions, would be installed to safeguard the bridge foundations from erosion and scouring.

He explained that the existing Carter Bridge could not be fully closed during construction because of its importance to Lagos’ transportation system.

As a result, the Federal Government will continue monitoring and maintaining the existing structure until the new bridge is completed.

“If we close Carter Bridge, Lagos will go into katakata (chaos). That is why we are maintaining it while the reconstruction is going on,” Umahi said.

Umahi added that similar intervention measures were being carried out on the Third Mainland Bridge to extend its service life by another 50 years.

He expressed confidence that the reconstructed Carter Bridge could remain in service for more than 100 years because of the engineering features incorporated into its new design.

The minister commended CCECC for the progress made so far and thanked members of the National Assembly for their support for the project.

The Federal Government has officially commenced the reconstruction and dualisation of the 56.5-kilometre Ijebu-Ode–Ibadan road, a major project expected to strengthen transportation, improve economic activities and support development across Ogun and Oyo states.

Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, who represented President Bola Tinubu at the flag-off ceremony, said the project would help improve security, strengthen the agricultural value chain and create direct and indirect employment opportunities for residents of both states.

The ceremony was held at the open field of Legacy Estate, Idi-Ape, Ibadan.

President Tinubu described the Ibadan–Ijebu-Ode corridor as an important economic route linking Ibadan and Ijebu-Ode with the Lekki economic axis, while also providing connections to other parts of the South-West and Nigeria.

According to the President, the project reflects his administration’s commitment to developing strategic economic corridors and delivering infrastructure capable of improving the lives of Nigerians.

He said the commencement of the project was more than another road construction initiative but “a decisive statement that no critical infrastructure deficit will be ignored and no strategic economic corridor will be allowed to stand in the way of our collective prosperity.”

“The Ibadan–Ijebu-Ode Road is too important to Oyo State, Ogun State, Lagos and, indeed, the entire Nigeria to be left unattended to.

“Today, the Renewed Hope Agenda moves beyond promises into practical action through a project that will improve mobility, strengthen commerce and create new possibilities for our people,” he said.

Tinubu said better road infrastructure would support trade, increase productivity, lower transportation costs and create opportunities for farmers, manufacturers, traders and other Nigerians.

He disclosed that the project would involve the construction of approximately 58 kilometres of dual carriageway using continuous reinforced concrete pavement designed to improve durability, safety and long-term value.

The President said the contractor had assured the government that the work would be completed in less than 24 months. He directed the company to mobilise fully to the site, comply with approved specifications and deliver within the agreed timeframe.

He also appealed to communities along the corridor to cooperate with the Federal Ministry of Works, contractors and relevant government agencies to facilitate the smooth execution of the project.

Tinubu warned against encroachment, disruptions and unreasonable demands that could slow down construction, stressing that the cooperation of all stakeholders would be essential to the project’s success.

According to him, the project’s impact should ultimately be measured by the benefits it brings to Nigerians, including easier movement of agricultural products from farms to markets, faster transportation of goods, reduced travel times and improved access to employment, education and healthcare.

The President also disclosed that approval had been given for the reconstruction and dualisation of the Abeokuta–Ibadan Road, which he said would further improve connectivity between the two cities and stimulate economic activity in Ogun and Oyo states.

Minister of Works Dave Umahi said Tinubu had directed the immediate reconstruction and dualisation of the 70-kilometre Ibadan–Abeokuta Road, with the procurement process already underway.

Umahi disclosed that Oyo State currently has 17 major road projects out of 47 Federal Government projects being implemented across the South-West.

He added that Ogun and Ondo states have a combined 82-kilometre section of the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway, which he said would provide access to the largest seaport currently under development in Ogun State.

Highlighting other Federal Government projects in the region, the minister mentioned the 1,068-kilometre Badagry–Sokoto Road, with 258 kilometres already dualised.

He also cited the 56-kilometre Oyo–Ogbomoso Road, which he said was 80 per cent complete, as well as the 34-kilometre Oyo–Ibadan Road, which had been abandoned but was revived by the current administration.

Umahi described JRB, the contractor handling the Ibadan–Ijebu-Ode project, as one of Nigeria’s best-equipped indigenous construction companies, with experience delivering projects across the country.

He urged residents of communities along the route to support the contractor and help ensure that the project is completed on schedule.

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Works, Senator Allwell Onyesoh, said the road was originally conceived during the administration of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo in 1965 to connect Ibadan and Ijebu communities.

He said the reconstruction and modernisation of the road under Tinubu would make the route more functional, reduce travel time and help minimise accidents.

The member representing Ijebu North, Ijebu East and Ogun Waterside Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Joseph Adegbesan, said he had moved for the reconstruction because of the road’s importance to the socioeconomic development of Ogun and Oyo states.

He noted that the route provides vital access to markets, farms and educational institutions, and thanked the President for responding to calls for its reconstruction.

Chairman of the House Committee on Works, Akin Alabi, said the project would provide relief to residents who had endured the poor condition of the road for years.

He assured that communities would cooperate with the Federal Government and contractor to support timely completion.

The Ebumawe of Ago-Iwoye, Oba Rasak Adenugba, recalled the difficult condition of the road and its impact on communities along the corridor.

He said the reconstruction would help revive commercial activities, improve connectivity and reduce accidents, while urging residents to cooperate with the contractor.

The Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Rashid Ladoja, said the deteriorated road had contributed to security challenges by leaving parts of the corridor vulnerable to criminal activities.

He expressed optimism that the reconstruction would help reduce incidents of banditry and kidnapping while strengthening the longstanding relationship between the people of Ibadan and Ijebu.

The road project was awarded on May 5, 2026, and construction commenced on July 11, 2026. The project is scheduled for completion by June 10, 2029.