FG Shuts Down Waterway Between Eko and Carter Bridges After Dredger Wrecks Bridge Support

By Achimi Muktar

In a swift move to avert a looming disaster, the Federal Government has ordered the immediate closure of the waterway between Eko and Carter Bridges in Lagos following structural damage caused by illegal dredging activities.

Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, sounded the alarm on Saturday during an inspection of critical bridges in Lagos, revealing that a dredger had slammed into a pier cap beneath the Eko Bridge — leading to a terrifying collapse and submersion of the vital support structure.

“The impact was so severe that the pier literally tumbled and sank,” Umahi disclosed, expressing deep concern over what he described as reckless and dangerous dredging operations occurring too close to critical national infrastructure.

The Minister confirmed that the operator of the offending dredger has been apprehended and promised swift action to bring the perpetrators to justice. He urged Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to enforce an immediate closure of the affected waterway to prevent further damage or accidents.

The inspection tour also revealed ongoing dredging activities around other major Lagos bridges, including the Third Mainland Bridge — in direct violation of a standing Federal Executive Council (FEC) ban on dredging within a 10-kilometre radius of any bridge in Nigeria.

“This is not just disobedience; it’s a direct threat to lives,” Umahi warned. “We cannot afford to lose any of these structures to negligence.”

He further condemned the practice of parking and loading heavy vehicles on bridges, a routine activity he said adds dangerous weight and stress to already vulnerable structures. Violators, he stressed, would face serious consequences moving forward.

Why It Matters:
The FEC’s nationwide ban on dredging within 10km of bridges was introduced to safeguard critical infrastructure. Pier caps, like the one destroyed, are essential in supporting bridge weight and transferring structural forces to the foundation. Damaging them could trigger a catastrophic collapse.

The government now faces a race against time to secure Lagos' iconic bridges from further damage while enforcing stricter compliance across the country.

As the FG clamps down, Lagosians are left to wonder: could more hidden dangers be lurking beneath their daily commute?