Minister of Works, David Umahi, has said the ministry and stakeholders have agreed that the Carter Bridge in Lagos will be pulled down for reconstruction.

The minister said this yesterday during the inspection of the bridge. He also said the ministry was open to a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) on the rehabilitation of the Third Mainland Bridge.

Speaking after the inspection, he said: “With what we have observed, Julius Berger should go back and write their investigative report on each of the pier caps for both Carter and Third Mainland bridges. We have insisted that the situation of Carter Bridge is critical, and it seems that all stakeholders have agreed that Carter Bridge is irredeemable, but what we did today(yesterday) was to see how we can salvage the ramps so we can cut down cost and time of construction.

“We could not make the decision; so, we need consultants and Julius Berger to tell us their observations. We have instruments to determine if the observations are right or wrong. Both the ramps and axle section of the Carter Bridge will have to go. We are also aware that the previous Carter Bridge, which was demolished by explosives, is still in the water; so, we have to consider the removal so it won’t affect our navigational activities.

“The critical decision we have to take is that, since it seems that all stakeholders have agreed that a new Carter Bridge should be constructed. Are we demolishing and following the existing one, or is there any way we can salvage and repair to be in use while we take a different alignment? We are coming back to Lagos to determine that, but in the meantime, we’ve advertised for public engagement and an expert to let us know the technical information, technical design and idea for Third Mainland and Carter Bridge, but the ministry is not buying the idea of a new Third
Mainland Bridge. We will do everything to rehabilitate the Third Mainland Bridge, and for Carter Bridge, the decision is that we have to do away with it.”

On the ministry’s policy on contract awards in the country, he said: “We have said that expatriates will no longer do a job below N20 billion. Competent indigenous contractors will always compete with expatriates for jobs in billions and trillions; so, we are not limiting local contractors to jobs below N20 billion. Bigger indigenous contractors will also compete with expatriates on jobs above N20 billion.”