LAGOS, Nigeria — The Federal Government has finalized plans to commence full mobilization for the construction of a new Carter Bridge this month, alongside an estimated ₦30 billion emergency restoration of the Eko Bridge infrastructure corridor.
The development was disclosed by the Honourable Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, on Thursday, June 18, 2026, during an extensive on-site inspection of active federal road and transport assets across Lagos State.
Okay News reports that the dual-bridge intervention aims to rectify severe structural degradation caused by illegal sand dredging, beneath-bridge commercial fires, and recurring collisions by heavy-duty trucks. To fast-track the Eko Bridge recovery, the ministry has replaced traditional concrete beams with pre-cast T-beams, aiming for a full reopening before the end of the year. Umahi revealed that immediate stabilization works will cost ₦12 billion, while ongoing underwater bearing repairs are valued at ₦18 billion, with an executive funding request already forwarded to the presidency to prevent structural collapse.
Engineering modifications on the Eko Bridge include deep ground excavation to guarantee a minimum standard headroom clearance of 5.6 meters for heavy vehicles. For the new Carter Bridge project, handled by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), site clearing operations are scheduled to begin on Monday. The upgraded architectural design features modern rope-bridge elements and dual 105-meter spans to optimize lagoon navigation. Defending the administration’s infrastructure footprints against political critics, Umahi dismissed opposition rhetoric as “cheap talk,” pointing to simultaneous federal fund releases for critical highways across the country as evidence of executive capacity.
