FG Partners Julius Berger to Fix Alarming Structural Defects on Lagos’ Iconic Third Mainland Bridge

By Achimi muktar

In a dramatic move to prevent what could become a national infrastructure disaster, the Federal Government is teaming up with construction giant Julius Berger to tackle serious deflection issues on Lagos’ iconic Third Mainland Bridge — by flying engineers to Germany for an urgent design review.

The bridge, a vital artery linking Lagos Island and the mainland, has shown alarming signs of structural deflection — particularly affecting articulated vehicles. In response, four top engineers from the Federal Ministry of Works will accompany Julius Berger’s team to Germany to evaluate a new design blueprint that could determine the future of one of Africa’s longest bridges.

Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, made the explosive revelation during an inspection of the bridge on Saturday. According to him, abnormal sagging in the bridge’s concrete slabs has made it unsafe for heavy-duty vehicles, triggering partial closures and commuter anxiety.

“Julius Berger insists there's a new engineering solution,” Umahi said. “Our engineers must go to Germany and work alongside their team to verify and review this proposed design.”

The proposed overhaul, he explained, isn’t just about patching up cracks — it involves a full reassessment of the bridge’s structure, integrity, and future lifespan.

As reported by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the design review will look into cutting-edge structural adaptations to counter the bridge's current weaknesses. With thousands of vehicles depending on the bridge daily, Umahi emphasized that delay is not an option.

But that's not all.

The Federal Government is also moving fast to address other critical infrastructure issues in Lagos. Following the recent emergency at Eko Bridge, which was damaged by a dredger, Umahi assured that top engineering teams are already at work to secure and repair the site.

Ghassan Kaadi, Project Coordinator for Build Well (contractors on Eko Bridge), confirmed the work is 75% complete, with repairs on expansion joints and installation of solar lights underway.

Meanwhile, Thomas Christ, Regional Manager of Julius Berger, reiterated the firm’s commitment to solving structural concerns on Third Mainland and Carter Bridges, working closely with the Ministry of Works.

As Nigeria races against time to safeguard its most vital transportation links, all eyes are on the German design review — and the future of the Third Mainland Bridge may well depend on what those four engineers bring back.