FG Approves N99bn for Repair of Third Mainland Bridge, Others

• Says bridge in critical condition
• FEC raises ministerial committee to inspect East-West road

Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja

The federal government wednesday in Abuja approved N99.01 billion for the repair of Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos as well as section two on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, among others.

Briefing journalists at the end of over eight hours weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in the State House, presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, said the Third Mainland Bridge contract was awarded to an Italian firm, Borini Prono, at the cost of N18.87 billion.
Yesterday’s FEC meeting which was the longest in recent times, began at about 11a.m. and ended at about 7p.m.
The minister who put the duration of the repair at 27 months, added that the contractors would repair 33 of a total of 177 piles that make up the bridge.

Fashola, who said the bridge was in a critical condition, noted that the repair would include what he described as the maintenance of general expansion joint replacement.

According to him, 19 piles on the bridge were in critical conditions while 44 piles were less critical, adding that the budget for the repair of the bridge was captured in the 2017 Appropriation Act.

He also said FEC approved N80.199billion as revised budgets for the second section of 84 kilometres on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway as well as another N38.03 billion for the repair of Orikam road in Enugu State.

“Recall that federal government initially approved N96.304 billion for the Lagos-Ibadan road project. With yesterday’s approval by FEC, the project has been revised to N176.50billion.

“FEC also approved N38.034 billion for the construction of the 9th Mile-Orikam road in Enugu State which is 72kilometers. About N10billion is to be drawn from the Ecological Fund to fund the project,” he said. Fashola also said the council approved N2.54billion for the redesign and construction of Ikire bridge in Osun State.

In another development, FEC constituted a four-man ministerial committee headed by the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, to inspect the condition of the East-West road.

According to Amaechi, the proposed inspection is aimed at ensuring the speedy completion of the road in the Niger Delta.

He listed members of the ministerial committee to include the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, Minister of Niger Delta, Usani Nguru Usani and Fashola.