Global financial institution Deutsche Bank has indicated strong interest in financing major rehabilitation and replacement works on two of Lagos’ most important bridges — the Carter Bridge and the Third Mainland Bridge. The move comes as the Federal Government continues to court international investors to support large-scale road infrastructure projects across the country.
A delegation from the bank, led by its Managing Director and Global Co-Head of Structured Trade and Export Finance, Moritz Dornemann, and its Chief Country Representative in Nigeria, Andreas Voss, met with the Minister of Works, David Umahi, in Abuja on Tuesday. During the meeting, they also reaffirmed their interest in future financing for the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.
According to a statement by the minister’s Special Adviser on Media, Orji Uchenna, the visit was part of the government’s efforts to build strong partnerships with reputable global financiers to accelerate funding for critical national projects. The delegation said they were impressed with the Federal Government’s commitment to renewing the country’s transport infrastructure and praised President Bola Tinubu for backing large-scale road projects that can boost national productivity.
The Deutsche Bank team expressed particular interest in financing the replacement of the Carter Bridge, which is one of the oldest and most historically significant bridges in Lagos, and the full rehabilitation of the underwater structures of the Third Mainland Bridge, Africa’s second-longest bridge.
The statement explained that the officials visited the ministry to show formal interest in both projects. It added that the bank commended the quality of work being done by Hitech Construction Company on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway. The progress on that project, they said, has boosted their confidence in Nigeria’s capacity to deliver world-class infrastructure and increased their appetite to fund more phases.
Responding, Umahi thanked the bank for its growing confidence in Nigeria’s infrastructure programme. He revealed that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway has already been oversubscribed by more than $100m, showing investor interest in the project. He also confirmed that Deutsche Bank had shown interest in evaluating the cost of the project, which they believe may be undervalued.
The minister disclosed that Carter Bridge had deteriorated significantly over the years, making full replacement the only sustainable option. He said the government was still carrying out remedial works to preserve the bridge while preparing for the replacement process. Umahi also explained that the Third Mainland Bridge, which has undergone several rounds of repair in recent years, has developed severe underwater structural defects that now require comprehensive rehabilitation to extend its lifespan by another 50 years.
He assured the delegation that the procurement process for the projects was transparent and unbiased. He promised that Deutsche Bank would be carried along once successful bidders are selected.
The engagement marks another step in the Federal Government’s renewed push to attract global financing for key infrastructure, especially in Lagos, where major bridges have suffered decades of ageing, heavy traffic, corrosion and structural stress. Concerns over funding gaps have grown as the government struggles to address the massive backlog of road projects nationwide.
The Third Mainland Bridge, opened in 1990 during the General Ibrahim Babangida administration, remains one of Nigeria’s most important transport corridors. Stretching about 11.8 kilometres, it carries hundreds of thousands of vehicles daily. Over the years, the bridge has faced structural pressure caused by age, failed expansion joints, heavy traffic and saltwater corrosion. Since 2012, the Federal Government has carried out several rehabilitation phases, including work on bearings, expansion joints, deck repairs and asphalt replacement.
Major repairs were done between 2020 and 2021, followed by additional works between 2022 and 2024. Despite these efforts, engineers have repeatedly warned about the state of the underwater piles supporting the bridge, with some showing signs of deterioration. This has raised concerns about long-term stability and the need for urgent interventions.
Carter Bridge, first built in 1901 and later reconstructed in the 1970s, is one of Lagos’ oldest bridges and historically served as the main link between Lagos Island and the mainland before the introduction of Eko Bridge and the Third Mainland Bridge. Its age and exposure to harsh marine conditions have led to structural strain, weakened components and corrosion. Although the government has been attempting to keep it stable through remedial works, officials now consider full replacement as a priority to reduce future risks.
The Federal Government believes that with strong partnerships from global lenders like Deutsche Bank, Nigeria can fast-track major infrastructure renewal and deliver safer, stronger and more resilient transport routes for the future.
