At 11.8 kilometres, the Third Mainland Bridge is the longest road bridge in Lagos, linking the city’s island with its sprawling mainland.
The bridge itself was born of crisis, tracing to the late 1970s. The city’s surging population was causing endless traffic on its major roads. The Carter and Eko bridges, two major bridges, strained under the daily crush.
The government’s efforts to restrict cars by odd and even number plates brought no notable relief.
The Third Mainland Bridge became a lasting panacea to Lagos’ persistent gridlock. The first phase of the bridge was erected from Lagos Island to Ebute Metta between 1976 and 1980. The second extending to Oworonshoki between 1988 and 1990, when it was finally commissioned.
Decades later, the bridge is straining now under the weight of the city’s prosperity. New underwater inspections revealed troubling structural damage around its foundations and piers, caused by sand mining, erosion and decades of wear.
The findings have prompted the Federal Government to approve a ₦3.8 trillion rehabilitation plan, one of the country’s most expensive infrastructure undertakings in recent history.
Just last year, the government invested ₦21 billion in emergency repairs on the bridge. The urgency of the bridge’s rehabilitation is underscored by how much it carries– over 120,000 vehicles each day.
Seven specialist contractors have already been engaged to manage assessments, designs, and tendering, setting the stage for what could be one of Nigeria’s most expensive public–private collaborations.
The government is in talks with international financiers, including Deutsche Bank, whose backing would be critical in hedging the risk of such a massive undertaking.
When sections of the bridge were shut for emergency maintenance in 2020, the city nearly froze. Commuters were trapped for up to five hours in traffic, while fuel consumption soared as engines idled in endless gridlock.
The benefits of this rehabilitation plan are not exclusive to just Lagos. Contributing over 30 % to the country’s GDP, the city is more than just Nigeria’s economic capital. It serves as a critical artery for West African trade.
The collapse of the Third Mainland Bridge would have knock-on effects on the region’s economy.
The cost, too, raises questions. At ₦3.8 trillion, the rehabilitation plan is 7.37% more than Nigeria’s 2025 education budget and 34.68% more than the health allocation. As Nigeria still grapples with inflation and currency pressures, the financial weight of the project will test the government’s ability to balance priorities.
Still, officials insist the investment is unavoidable, a safeguard against a structural failure that could have unimaginable human and economic consequences.
There is a broader narrative at play. The Third Mainland Bridge holds a prominent place in the memories of thousands who ply the channel to work, school and the market. Its rehabilitation is, in many ways, a rebuilding of trust that the city’s growth will not forever outpace its foundations.
Yet the state of the Third Mainland Bridge is a metaphor for the city of Lagos itself: overstretched, under pressure, yet indispensable.
Its fate will test not only the Lagos’ engineering but also Nigeria’s will to invest in the arteries that keep its economy running.
The Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos, spanning 11.8 kilometers, was constructed in response to traffic congestion in the late 1970s. Initially completed between 1976 and 1990, it alleviated gridlock on the city's two major bridges. However, recent inspections have shown structural damage caused by sand mining, erosion, and wear, prompting a ₦3.8 trillion rehabilitation plan, signifying a significant public-private partnership and involving seven specialist contractors. This project aims to address safety concerns and support Lagos' vital economic role, contributing over 30% to Nigeria's GDP and serving as a key trade artery in West Africa.
The bridge handles over 120,000 vehicles daily, and its potential collapse poses severe economic implications not only for Lagos but also for the region. The rehabilitation, outweighing planned budgets for education and health, highlights Nigeria's challenge in balancing infrastructural investments against other priorities amid inflationary pressures. Despite costs, the investment is deemed necessary to prevent catastrophic economic and human consequences, symbolizing the importance of reinforcing infrastructure to match Lagos' rapid growth and maintaining trust among its commuters. The bridge's condition mirrors Lagos' strained but indispensable infrastructure, testing Nigeria's commitment to sustaining its economic lifelines.
