By Peter Adelowo
The Federal Ministry of Works is to spend 3.571 billion Naira to investigate the deterioration of the Third Mainland Bridge and the Carter Bridge in Lagos, with a view to arresting the problems identified.
The Minister, Senator David Umahi told newsmen that a comprehensive evaluation of the bridges carried out in 2009 determined their deterioration, which now require further investigation to unravel their real situations.
“in 2013 it was repeated, and it was found out that the deterioration was progressive. And so we decided to check all the pipes inside the water in Third Mainland Bridge and the Carter Bridge, so that we can devise solution to stop further decay of the pipes”, the Minister explained.
He said President Tinubu had directed that work on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway should also start from the Calabar axis of the project, while the Sections One and Two going on within Lagos, be continued.
“It’s about 65 kilometer by two dualized, the project is going to cost us N1.334 trillion for a total kilometer of 130 kilometers. And of course, it’s on EPC plus 10. so that has been approved by FEC”, Senator Umahi said.
Senator Umahi explained that there were ten other projects approved by FEC, including the construction of access roads from Delta and Anambra states to the 2nd Niger Bridge, costing about 700 billion Naira.
“FEC also approved the Lagos-Ibadan Phase Two, Section One, for a contract sum of N195 billion, and that is CBC. So these are the three APDIF projects that were approved. And, you know, pidf has been taken over by infrastructure funding”, he added.
The Minister said approval had also been given for the resumption of work on the Abuja-Kano Highway in the sum of 885 billion Naira, Onitsha -Owerri Highway, at the cost of 22 billion Naira, and the Wusasa-Jos route in Kaduna State, costing18 billion Naira.
He explained that the Ministry equally got approval for the reconstruction of three sections of the Lokoja to Benin road, with the first section starting from Obajana to Benin, in the sum of 64 billion Naira, and the third section starting from Auchi to Edo, in the sum of 110 billion Naira.
