The Federal Government has announced plans to demolish and rebuild three major spans of the Iddo Bridge in Lagos, following severe structural damage caused by a fire linked to illegal occupants and repeated truck collisions.
Speaking during a press briefing at the bridge site on Wednesday, the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Mrs. Olukorede Kesha, explained that the project aims to restore the bridge to a safe and durable condition. She noted that the repair works would take approximately three months.
According to Kesha, the government will restrict heavy-duty and articulated vehicles from using the bridge starting next weekend to enable the installation of height barriers and the commencement of construction.
She disclosed that demolition of the damaged bridge deck would begin on November 22. “We are here to inform Lagosians that the Iddo Bridge will soon be closed to articulated vehicles,” she said. “This restriction is necessary because the bridge has not received proper attention for many years and now requires urgent repairs.”
The controller added that the rehabilitation would be carried out in phases, with the Apapa-bound section scheduled for the first round of work.
Traffic, she said, would be redirected to the Carter Bridge side with a counterflow arrangement that accommodates only light vehicles.
To ensure smooth movement during the period, Kesha stated that the ministry had met with key traffic and security agencies, including the Federal Road Safety Corps, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority and the Police.
She urged motorists, especially truck and trailer drivers, to obey diversion signs and use alternative routes such as 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,” she added.
Kesha further explained that advocacy campaigns would extend to garages, parks, and transport unions to ensure wide dissemination of the restriction notice.
The project, expected to be completed by early March 2026, is designed to improve safety and traffic flow once the bridge is fully reopened.
In July, the Federal Government revealed it had reduced the cost of the Iddo Bridge rehabilitation from N27 billion to N17 billion after negotiations with Julius Berger.
Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, confirmed the development during an inspection visit to the site. He said, “Julius Berger quoted, I think, N27 billion or thereabout, but after much negotiation and discussion, we now arrived at N17 billion.”
Umahi explained that the bridge’s three spans were severely damaged by a fire ignited by illegal occupants who had built makeshift structures beneath it.
“They brought in chemicals, built block walls and set up homes. Then, they set up fire that burnt the bridge and damaged three spans. Now we are going to fix the bridge completely,” he said.
The minister also pointed out that the Iddo Bridge, which currently has a headroom of about 4.5 metres, has endured years of damage from truck impacts and illegal activities underneath. He added that the reconstruction plan would raise the headroom to at least 5.6 metres.
