Lagos State is a land of opportunities. But with the opportunities come overpopulation, which causes intense congestion that threatens to paralyse the state, particularly concerning traffic gridlock. However, the Lagos State government has come up with a solution to deal with these pressures and that solution is building the Fourth Mainland Bridge.
The Fourth Mainland Bridge is a huge project in Lagos which will require billions of naira. The project has not started yet but it has already shown that there will be a lot of victims. Although the motive behind constructing the bridge is adjudged reasonable, even recommendable, many controversies surround it.
Table of Content hide 1What is Fourth Mainland Bridge? 2Fourth Mainland Bridge route 3Fourth Mainland Bridge controversies 4Fourth Mainland Bridge commencement date 5ConclusionWhat is Fourth Mainland Bridge?
The Fourth Mainland Bridge is a proposed 38 km long bridge project by the Lagos State Government connecting Lagos Island by way of Langbasa (Lekki) and Baiyeku (Ikorodu) across the Lagos Lagoon to Itamaga, in Ikorodu. The bridge is expected to become the second longest Bridge in Africa, featuring three toll plazas and 9 interchanges across a 4.5-kilometre Lagoon Bridge.
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The idea to construct the Fourth Mainland Bridge was conceived by the government of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a former governor of the state. However, the planning and construction of the bridge were deferred by subsequent administrations. It was reported that construction would start in 2017 and the project was expected to be completed in 2019. However, the project has not started, as of the time of this report.
Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the incumbent Governor of Lagos State, notified the public in January 2022, that three companies have reached the final stage and the contract would be awarded in March 2022. Six bidders had initially submitted their bids for the project in April 2021. On December 29, 2022, Messrs CCECC-CRCCIG Consortium was announced as the preferred bidder for the construction of the bridge by the state government.
According to a report by the Vanguard, the project is estimated to cost about $2.5 billion and would be delivered through a Public-Private Partnership initiative. It would also be tolled for two years. The project is expected to be completed in four years.
Fourth Mainland Bridge route
The Fourth Mainland Bridge is expected to be about 38 kilometres. The route will start from Abraham Adesanya in Ajah on the Eti-Osa-Lekki-Epe corridor and extend North-West towards the Lagoon shoreline of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway via Owutu/Isawo in Ikorodu. Note that only the maximum speed of 120 km/h will be allowed on the new greenfield tolled road once it is completed.
Fourth Mainland Bridge controversies
The right of way of the proposed 4th Mainland Bridge and Estates that maybe affected. Up to 800 homes to be compensated. Pls beware where and how you buy properties along the proposed route.
— Arthur of Camelot (@KingArthurOG) January 7, 2023
As previously stated, the Fourth Mainland Bridge project has not started yet, but it already comes with controversies. According to a report by the Nigerian Tribune, the Lagos State government announced that no fewer than 800 buildings may be affected when construction of the bridge commences. According to the Special Adviser to the Governor on Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Aramide Adeyoye, the buildings that will be demolished to pave way for the project have been pruned down from 2,000 to 800.
The news was instantly met with criticism, particularly from stakeholders and owners of the affected properties who raised concerns over the compensation for demolishing their buildings. The locations of the properties that are likely to be demolished include the following:
- Abraham Adesanya Interchange
- Citiweb Auto Service Centre
- Bola Ahmed Tinubu Way
- Ten Family Estate
- Aguleri Drive
- Chukwuemeka Anosike Street
- Modupe Young
- Chief Innocent Oguguo Street
- Mazi Onyebudu Street
- Powerline
- Addo Road
- Mobil Filling Station
- Oando Gas Filling Station
- The Princess Plaza Shopping Mall
- Lekki Toll Plaza
- Lagbasa Island
- Ayetoro (Bayekun)
However, the state government, through Adeyeye, assured the affected persons that adequate compensation will be given to them.
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Speaking at the stakeholders’ forum on December 15, 2022, Adeyoye said: “This project passes through Lagos and Ogun states so it is a Lagos State initiative for Lagos State and Ogun State driven by Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu and that means all of the corridors within Lagos and those within Ogun State, there is a harmonious and integrated approach to settlement and that is what we will do and each party will be properly compensated, where necessary resettled.
“The approach is going to be holistic I think the issue compensation is not the case it is actually a composite plan to make everybody happy.’’
However, Minister of Environment, Mohammed Abdulahi, who was represented at the forum by Engineer Gomwalk Celestine, raised concerns over the proposed Fourth Mainland Bridge. Acknowledging the obvious benefits of the project, he noted that the project may also bring negative social, economic, health and environmental consequences.
In his address, the Minister said, as quoted by ThisDay:
“Despite the laudable benefits associated with the proposed project and considering the biophysical and socio-economic nature of the proposed corridor; the project was envisaged to have significant negative social, economic, health and environmental consequences, including resettlement issues for numerous Project Affected Persons (PAPs).
“It is the responsibility of the Federal Government, in collaboration with other tiers of government and relevant regulatory authorities, to ensure that these negative impacts are adequately identified and effectively mitigated while the attendant positive impacts are realised for (the) project and environmental sustainability.”
Fourth Mainland Bridge commencement date
Adeyoye revealed that the commencement date of the construction of the Fourth Mainland Bridge will be in the first quarter of 2023.
Conclusion
There is no doubt that the construction of the Fourth Mainland Bridge comes with several benefits. Most importantly, the bridge will relieve traffic congestion, especially on the already overstretched Third Mainland Bridge and Eko Bridge, which are the primary routes that connect the mainland and island in the city. In addition, the Fourth Mainland Bridge is expected to stimulate and accommodate pedestrian, social, commercial and cultural interactions, also known as Lagos life, which refers to the intimate street-level exchanges in Lagos.
Despite these benefits, one cannot ignore the fears that come with the construction of the bridge. The primary fear is the issue of compensation. Although the state government has assured stakeholders and other property and land owners affected by the proposed bridge construction that they will be adequately compensated, even if it means resettling in other locations, promises by the government are usually taken with a pinch of salt because of previous experiences.
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