The Federal Government has successfully slashed the cost of fixing the fire-damaged Iddo Bridge in Lagos from ₦27 billion to ₦17 billion, following intense negotiations with construction giant Julius Berger.
Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, revealed this during an on-site inspection on Friday, highlighting that the cost reduction was made possible through what he described as “constructive dialogue” with the company’s new leadership.
He applauded the firm’s willingness to adjust its initial quotation, calling the move a sign of a “new spirit of accountability” in Nigeria’s infrastructure sector.
Umahi confirmed that the bridge rehabilitation would go beyond surface repairs, noting that years of neglect, collisions from heavy-duty trucks, and illegal settlements under the structure had worsened its condition.
“Fire damage to three spans of the bridge was caused by makeshift homes under the bridge, people stored chemicals and even lit fires,” he said, adding that the headroom under the bridge would now be raised from 4.5 to 5.6 meters to prevent future structural damage.
He firmly stated that the era of turning public infrastructure into personal shelters was over.
“No one is coming back to live under this bridge, not under my watch,” Umahi declared.
The Federal Ministry of Works says the aim of repairs is to make the bridge safe again while also preventing the kind of damage caused by unauthorised use and abuse of public facilities.
