In a bid to ensure the safety and efficiency of major road infrastructures in Nigeria, the Federal Government has approved the sum of N23.33bn for the surface maintenance of the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos State, as well as the augmentation of the contract sum for the old Enugu-Anambra road project.
The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, made the announcement while briefing State House correspondents after this week’s Federal Executive Council meeting at the Presidential Villa.
Fashola explained that the 24-month repair of the Third Mainland Bridge would cover 11 kilometres, including interchanges, ramps, and critical links.
The move aligns with Executive Order 11, signed by President Muhammadu Buhari in April 2022, which gave legal backing to the country’s national maintenance policy.
Fashola emphasized that there would be no duplication of efforts, as the Lagos State Government’s Public Works Corporation would focus on the functional structure of the bridge, such as the underwater piles, while the Federal Government would undertake surface maintenance to treat potholes and restore missing guard rails.
The Third Mainland Bridge is a crucial infrastructure that links Lagos Island to the mainland, and it is used by thousands of commuters daily. The bridge was commissioned in 1990 and has undergone several maintenance works over the years.
However, the recent surface maintenance aims to address the aesthetics and functionality of the bridge, including the replacement of stolen guard rails and misaligned pleats on the routes that lead on and off the bridge.
In addition to the Third Mainland Bridge repair, the Federal Government also approved a N17.05bn variation for the contract for the construction of the old Enugu-Onitsha road.
The current sum of the project now stands at N48.99bn. The old Enugu-Onitsha road is a major highway that connects the South-Eastern region of Nigeria to other parts of the country, and the augmentation of the contract sum will enable the speedy completion of the project.
The move by the Federal Government to prioritize the maintenance and repair of critical road infrastructures in Nigeria is a welcome development. It is expected to enhance road safety, reduce travel time, and boost economic activities in the affected regions.
The timely completion of the Third Mainland Bridge repair and the old Enugu-Anambra road project will undoubtedly improve the transportation network in Nigeria.
