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Tag: Iddo Bridge

  • FG to demolish, rebuild 3 spans of Iddo Bridge in Lagos

    FG to demolish, rebuild 3 spans of Iddo Bridge in Lagos

    The Federal Government will demolish and rebuild three major spans of the Iddo Bridge in Lagos, which has suffered structural damage from a fire caused by illegal occupants and repeated collisions with trucks.

    The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Mrs Olukorede Kesha, stated this on Wednesday while briefing newsmen at the bridge site in Lagos.

    She said the repair which was part of the Federal Government’s plan to address structural defects and restore the bridge to a safe and durable state, would last about three months.

    According to her, heavy and articulated vehicles will be restricted from using the bridge beginning from next weekend, to allow for the installation of height barriers and the commencement of the repair work.

    She said after that, on Nov. 22, demolition of the bridge deck proper would start.

    She said the diversions would start from Apapa bound to Carta Bridge bound and would be counterflow.

    “We are here to inform Lagosians that the Iddo Bridge will soon be closed to articulated vehicles.

    “This restriction is necessary because the bridge has not received proper attention for many years and now requires urgent repairs,” she said.

    Kesha noted that while the demolition and reconstruction would take place in phases, the Apapa-bound section would be the first to be worked on.

    She said traffic would be diverted to the Carter Bridge side, with a counterflow arrangement for light vehicles only.

    The controller assured that the ministry had held meetings with relevant traffic and security agencies, including the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), and the Police, to ensure smooth movement during the construction period.

    Read Also: Fed Govt begins demolition of structures under Iddo Bridge

    She urged drivers, especially trailer and truck operators, to comply with diversion signs and use alternative routes through Eko Bridge, Costain, Third Mainland Bridge, and Herbert Macaulay Way.

    “We don’t want accidents. That’s why we are creating awareness early, especially for truck drivers who may not get information through the media,” Kesha said.

    She added that advocacy campaigns would also be taken to garages, parks, and transport unions to ensure widespread awareness of the planned restriction.

    Kesha said the project, expected to be completed by early March 2026, was designed to enhance safety and improve traffic flow once fully reopened.

    (NAN)

  • Fed Govt begins demolition of structures under Iddo Bridge

    Fed Govt begins demolition of structures under Iddo Bridge

    The Federal Government has started demolishing illegal settlements and commercial structures beneath the Iddo Bridge in Lagos, warning that the bridge’s structural integrity has been dangerously compromised.

    Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, who led a high-level inspection of the site over the weekend with engineers from Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, sounded the alarm over the state of the bridge, blaming years of unauthorised human activity for its deterioration.

    According to Umahi, the extent of the damage is so severe that Julius Berger engineers have recommended the bridge be completely demolished and rebuilt.

    He said: “This is about saving lives. We are not here to punish anyone. The Iddo Bridge has been severely damaged by illegal shops, warehouses, and even homes constructed underneath it. Some parts have been burnt; others have been hit by trucks. We can’t allow this to continue.

    “When bridge experts tell you it needs to be pulled down, that’s not a small warning; it’s a red flag.”

    The Iddo Bridge is not the only structure at risk. Umahi revealed that both the Cowry and Independence Bridges have suffered similar abuse due to illegal human occupation beneath them.

    “People are trading their safety and the lives of others for profit. Even after we engaged them, they insisted the matter is in court and refused to vacate. But no court ruling can justify endangering human lives,” the minister lamented.

    He added that some of the shops underneath the bridge were found to be storing chemicals, a practice he said had once caused a fire that further weakened the bridge’s support structures.

    Read Also: Lagos constructs 61 roads, five bridges in one year 

    Umahi gave a firm order to the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Olukorede Kesha, to ensure the complete demolition of the illegal structures beneath Iddo Bridge by close of business yesterday.

    “This is a life-saving intervention. The damage is clear—burnt sections, bent beams, collisions from trucks due to low clearance. Enough is enough,” Umahi said.

    He also directed that law enforcement secure the site during the exercise, and that all items of value found should be recorded and returned.

    In 2024, the Federal Government awarded Julius Berger the contract to rehabilitate the Iddo Bridge. But as Umahi explained, one of the chronic problems plaguing the bridge is its unusually low headroom of 3.0 metres, well below the recommended 5.6 metres; causing frequent collisions with trucks.