Olusegun Adeyemo
A cross-section of Lagos residents has expressed concern following the Federal Government’s announcement that the cost of rehabilitating the fire-damaged Iddo Bridge has been reduced from N27 billion to N17 billion.
The disclosure was made on Friday by the Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, during an inspection tour of the bridge, which has been a critical link within Lagos’ road network.
According to Umahi, the initial quotation was provided by construction giant Julius Berger, but was eventually renegotiated downwards after what he described as “extensive negotiations.”
“Julius Berger quoted, I think, N27 billion or thereabout, but after much negotiation and discussion, we now arrived at N17 billion,” the Minister told journalists at the site.
While the reduction in cost might seem like good news, the development has instead triggered public skepticism regarding the initial estimates, transparency of infrastructure contracts, and broader government spending priorities.
A quick opinion survey by The Journal Nigeria revealed widespread public doubts over the cost figures and the rationale behind such a significant reduction.
Mr. Femigold Mayor Snr, a resident of Isolo, described the initial N27 billion estimate as “excessive and suspicious.”
“There’s no way a project can be negotiated down by N10 billion unless the first valuation was padded or politically inflated. That’s not a normal reduction in any business,” he argued.
Mr. Stephen Pius, a student, questioned the overall budgeting logic behind the project.
“If repairing a bridge costs this much, how much would building a new one from scratch cost?” he asked rhetorically.
Also weighing in, Awodeji Babatunde Muritala, a student of Lagos State University, said the money could be better spent.
“Seventeen billion naira could construct more than 50 good roads in Ikorodu. We need to prioritize our spending instead of throwing billions at a single repair project,” he asserted.
Mr. Ebenezer Ogunleye, a secondary school teacher, emphasized the importance of accountability, particularly regarding the cause of the fire that damaged the bridge.
“We need to know what caused the fire. If it was due to negligence or a commercial vehicle or company, then those responsible should contribute to the repair cost. Taxpayers shouldn’t always bear the burden,” he said.
Offering a broader view, Engineer Chrisben Ifeanyichukwu acknowledged the concerns but urged citizens to consider the historic investments the Federal Government has made in Lagos’ infrastructure.
“People often forget that much of what Lagos benefits from today—roads, ports, bridges—was built with federal funds. These investments have been crucial to the city’s economic success,” he noted.
However, he also stressed the need for greater transparency in the costing of infrastructure projects to rebuild public trust and enhance fiscal responsibility
While the repair of the Iddo Bridge is deemed critical to the city’s transportation network, the public’s reaction has amplified growing demands for accountability, cost-efficiency, and inclusive infrastructure planning across Nigeria.
As the Federal Government proceeds with the project at the revised cost, many Lagosians say they will be watching closely—not just the bridge repair, but how public funds are managed in the process.