FG To Import €1.2m Equipment To Maintain Eko Bridge

Equipment worth €1.2million would be imported to effect maintenance on Eko Bridge in Lagos, Minister of Works, Sen. David Umahi has said. Assistant Director of Information, at the Federal Ministry of Works, Mr Clement Ezeorah, made this known in a statement he issued in Abuja, yesterday. He stated that the minister made the declaration when he paid a working visit to the Third Mainland Bridge, Carter, Falomo, Iddo, Eko, Marina, and Iganmu bridges in Lagos State.
He added that the minister inspected the bridges on Saturday alongside some directors in the ministry and contractors.
Ezeorah quoted the minister as saying that the deck on Eko Bridge would be opened to effect the maintenance.
Umahi commended former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration’s work on bridges, noting that the Second Mainland Bridge, also known as Eko Bridge, suffer two problems.
“Eko Bridge suffers two problems – the lack of maintenance, and the eating up of the bearings. There are lots of pair gaps, but the last administration did a very good and wonderful work.
“Work is on-going; it will be completed in 2024 because we are pushing for increase in the number of workers and equipment to site.
“Without Eko Bridge, we will not have any truck coming into Lagos Island,’’ the minister said.
Umahi also said that the Third Mainland Bridge, built in two sections, required comprehensive maintenance, particularly by the Federal Government.
The minister noted that the deflection on the bridge was caused by the lack of maintenance by successive Federal Government administrations preceding that of President Buhari.
He noted also that the facility, however, received attention by the state government since President Bola Tinubu became governor of Lagos State.
The Tide reports that the Phase One of the 11.8km Third Mainland Bridge was inaugurated by President Shehu Shagari in 1980 and completed by President Ibrahim Babangida in 1990.
It is the third bridge connecting Lagos Island to the Mainland.
The two other bridges connecting the two parts are the Second Mainland Bridge and Carter Bridge.
Umahi thanked President Tinubu and the National Assembly for looking at infrastructure in Lagos State strategically.
He noted that Lagos State is the financial capital of the country which has lots of national infrastructure that tremendously add to the country’s GDP and should not be neglected.