FG Declares Popular Lagos Bridge Irreparable, Plans to Demolish

The Federal Government has officially declared the historic Carter Bridge in Lagos beyond repair, signaling the end of efforts to rehabilitate the aging structure.

The announcement comes after assessments by engineers, contractors, and stakeholders confirmed that both the ramps and the main axial (central) section have deteriorated irreversibly.

During an inspection of the bridge’s underdeck on Wednesday, the Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, revealed that multiple reports — including those from consulting firms and Julius Berger Plc — pointed to the same conclusion: salvaging the current structure would be impractical.

Umahi disclosed:

“What we did today is to see whether we can salvage the ramps so that we cut down the cost of construction and the time of construction. But if the observations sent to us are correct, it means that both the ramp and the main axial section of the Carter Bridge will have to go.” 

With the bridge deemed irreparable, there is a growing consensus among all stakeholders to build a new alignment of Carter Bridge. However, Umahi stated that it was still being evaluated whether any parts of the existing structure could be retained to reduce cost and construction time.

The minister emphasized the need to consider maritime navigational safety by removing remnants of the original bridge—demolished by explosives in the past—that still lie in the water and pose hazards.

Contrary to some rumors, the government clarified that this decision does not affect the Third Mainland Bridge. There is no plan to build a replacement for it; rather, the focus remains on fully rehabilitating the existing structure.

Carter Bridge, first constructed in 1901, was the first bridge to link Lagos Island to the mainland. Over more than a century, it has undergone several reconstructions and rehabilitations, serving as a crucial route for commuters, traders, and general vehicular traffic.