The Federal Government has successfully negotiated the cost of the Iddo Bridge rehabilitation from an initial N27 billion to N17 billion.

The Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, made this known to journalists during an inspection of the bridge on Friday in Lagos.

He said: “Julius Berger quoted, I think, N27 billion or thereabout, but after much negotiation and discussion, we now arrived at N17 billion.”

Mr Umahi commended Julius Berger Nig. Plc. for demonstrating a sense of cooperation under its new leadership.

He described the company as a “born-again Berger,” attributing the breakthrough in negotiation to the understanding and openness of its new managing director.

The minister reiterated the government’s commitment to prudent spending, insisting that contractors must align with the ministry’s standards and directives.

Mr Umahi noted that the project had been reviewed from mere rehabilitation of the burnt section to a major work.

He expressed concern over the poor condition of the bridge, blaming it on years of neglect and human abuse, including illegal occupation and collisions by heavy-duty trucks.

He said that three spans of the bridge were severely damaged by fire, which he attributed to activities of illegal occupants who built makeshift homes under the bridge.

“They brought in chemicals, built block walls and set up homes. Then, they set fire that burnt the bridge and damaged three spans. Now we are going to fix the bridge completely,” Mr Umahi said.

The minister said the Iddo Bridge, now with a headroom of about 4.5 metres, suffered significant structural damage due to continuous hits from trucks and illegal structures beneath it.

He announced that the ministry would be creating a headroom of at least 5.6 metres.

He said that the federal ministry of works was committed to restoring the bridge for the safety of Nigerians and averting recurrence.

On the issue of displaced persons, the minister said that no one would be allowed to return under the bridge.

He stated, “Nobody will stay under Iddo Bridge again as long as I remain the minister of works. The lives of the people are more important.’’

He warned that the government would no longer tolerate any abuse of national infrastructure.

(NAN)