The Federal Government has dismissed rumours circulating on social media claiming that the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos is shaking and unsafe for use, describing the claims as baseless and malicious.
The rumours, which surfaced on platforms like WhatsApp and Facebook, alleged that a section of the bridge had opened up and was unstable.
During a tour of the bridge with journalists on Thursday, Mrs. Olukorede Kesha, Federal Controller of Works in Lagos State, assured the public of the bridge’s integrity and safety, urging Nigerians to disregard the false messages.
“The honourable minister has directed that I come out and tell Lagosians and Nigerians that there is nothing wrong with the bridge. The rumour is the handiwork of mischief columnists – those who are idle and those who think that the political atmosphere is too quiet for them,” Kesha said.
She added, “That is why we have come here. I took time with you people (journalists) to go through the entire length of the 11km bridge. We drove round this, we came back, and we saw that there is nothing amiss.”
Kesha emphasized that the Third Mainland Bridge remains structurally sound and is safe for motorists.
“We are using this opportunity to tell the motoring public, Lagosians, and all Nigerians that the bridge is safe, the integrity is not in doubt. After all, it is the same bridge that we ply, Lagosians ply, and the ministry’s officials ply,” she reiterated.
The controller noted that ongoing maintenance work on the bridge includes asphalt overlays, lane markings, guardrail installations, and underwater repairs. Efforts are also underway to address deflections in specific areas, particularly between the Adekunle and Adeniji junctions.
“You will observe that there is a deflection in some parts of the bridge; that is, from Adekunle to Adeniji. It is some of the slabs that are deflecting. There is a contract for that now to stop further deflection of this slab. Even if we cannot reverse what has been done, we can stop further deflection,” Kesha explained.
