The Federal Government has announced plans to shut an entire carriageway of the Eko Bridge in Lagos State to facilitate urgent repair works.

The Minister of Works, Sen. Dave Umahi, disclosed this on Wednesday during the handover of the Carter Bridge rehabilitation project site to the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) in Lagos.

“By midnight this coming Sunday, that full carriageway must be closed. The other carriageway will remain operational,” Umahi said.

He directed the Director of Bridges and the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos to collaborate with the Lagos State Government to launch a public awareness campaign and identify alternative traffic routes for commuters.

“We will not allow people to endanger their lives. We are a responsible administration, and although this problem was not caused by us, it is a challenge before us,” he stated.

According to the minister, the most effective solution would involve lifting the entire affected span of the bridge.

“The pier and the pier cap will be exposed. On the section that has been cut off, there will be piling.

“We are going to carry out additional piling around the pier cap, cast a new pier cap, strengthen the structure, and replace the damaged piles,” Umahi explained.

He added that the Federal Government had commissioned Buildwell, the project contractor, alongside professional divers, to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the extent of the damage before finalising the repair design.

“Before we proceed, Buildwell and the divers will undertake a thorough assessment of all affected areas so that these can be incorporated into the final design,” he said.

Umahi directed that the investigation should be completed within 10 days.

The minister apologised to Lagos residents for the inconvenience the closure would cause, stressing that the current administration inherited the problem.

“I want to apologise to Lagosians. We are solving problems we did not create.

“When we came on board, some sections of Eko Bridge had already been severely damaged by fire because people were living beneath the bridge and storing chemicals and various goods there. The resulting fire caused extensive destruction,” he said.

He noted that Buildwell had been awarded the contract before the current administration assumed office, but inadequate funding stalled progress until President Bola Tinubu intervened to accelerate the project.

Umahi also assured Nigerians that the Federal Government would take immediate action to address structural concerns on the Third Mainland Bridge, although there were no plans to demolish it.

“We have invited an external expert to verify about six previous investigations already carried out, and that process is ongoing.

“He will design the strengthening work required for the piers that are deteriorating and those that have detached from the pier caps. Thereafter, we will determine the cost of repairing the Third Mainland Bridge,” he said.

The minister urged Nigerians to appreciate ongoing infrastructure development efforts under the Tinubu administration.