‘Talk Is Cheap’ — Umahi Fires Back at Tinubu’s Critics as FG Moves to Rebuild Lagos Bridges

By Pan Afric Reporters

Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has launched a robust defence of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s leadership record, dismissing critics of the administration as mere talkers while unveiling plans to commence construction of a new Carter Bridge and accelerate the restoration of the aging Eko Bridge in Lagos.

The development was disclosed in a statement issued from the Office of the Honourable Minister of Works and signed by Francis Nwaze, FIPMD, Senior Special Assistant to the Honourable Minister of Works on Media, following the Minister’s inspection of ongoing federal road and bridge projects across Lagos on June 18, 2026.

During the inspection, Umahi announced that rehabilitation work on Eko Bridge was progressing steadily and revealed that full mobilization for the construction of the new Carter Bridge would begin before the end of June.

The Minister described the projects as critical components of the Federal Government’s broader infrastructure renewal agenda under President Tinubu’s administration.

“I can tell you, with the confidence of my boss, Mr. President, that within this month we will be able to commence full mobilization,” Umahi declared.

He explained that the reconstruction of Eko Bridge became necessary following severe structural damage caused by fire incidents linked to illegal trading activities beneath the bridge, as well as repeated impacts from heavy-duty trucks operating below required clearance levels.

According to him, the Ministry has adopted innovative engineering solutions to speed up repairs without compromising safety and quality standards.

“Today, we saw the rebuilding process and, to save time, we decided instead of using concrete beams, we would use T-beams,” he said.

The Minister stressed that strict supervision would be maintained throughout the project to ensure adherence to approved engineering specifications.

“At every stage of that construction, I must be informed to ensure that the engineering design is followed and that the method statement given to the contractor is also followed,” he added.

Expressing optimism about the pace of work, Umahi said the bridge should be fully completed before the end of the year.

“I believe strongly that by the end of the year, we should be able to completely finish Eko Bridge,” he stated.

The Minister disclosed that the government has commenced reinforced concrete pavement works and extensive excavation beneath the bridge to improve truck clearance.

“We had to dig the ground to gain additional height, having a minimum headroom of 5.6 metres for trucks. The standard engineering design for headroom is 5.6 metres,” he explained.

He further announced that future bridge projects under the Ministry would adopt a higher clearance standard of 6.5 metres to accommodate modern transportation demands.

Umahi also raised concerns over illegal activities beneath bridges, including indiscriminate parking of abandoned trucks and unauthorized sand dredging, which he said contributed significantly to the deterioration of bridge infrastructure.

“We’ve seen that it takes madness to cure this level of madness under our bridges,” he remarked while directing the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos to establish a dedicated enforcement task force.

The Minister revealed that urgent intervention works estimated at about ₦12 billion have been proposed to stabilize vulnerable sections of Eko Bridge, while an ongoing ₦18 billion contract covering underwater repairs and replacement of critical structural components remains underway.

“The immediate intervention is going to cost about ₦12 billion. We’ve sent it through the appropriate channels, and by next week I’ll be seeing Mr. President for intervention funds to restore that bridge,” he said.

Speaking on the proposed new Carter Bridge, Umahi commended China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) for demonstrating commitment to the project despite not yet receiving mobilization funds from the Federal Government.

“I’m very impressed with what CCECC is doing. We have not even paid the mobilization fee, but they have demonstrated capacity and willingness to partner with the Federal Government,” he said.

The Minister disclosed that the bridge’s design had undergone extensive technical reviews and stakeholder consultations, eliminating over 80 percent of the encumbrances that initially threatened its alignment, including concerns involving the Oba of Lagos’ Palace and other sensitive locations.

He explained that the new Carter Bridge would incorporate world-class engineering features, including expanded navigation spans to improve water transportation.

“We are bringing in modern road and bridge architecture. We’re going to have two spans of 105 metres each to aid navigation along this corridor. It’s also going to have a rope bridge, a very fantastic rope bridge, because we must develop forward and not backward,” he said.

In a sharp response to critics of President Tinubu, Umahi dismissed claims by some political actors that they possess superior credentials to lead Nigeria.

“I laughed in vernacular when somebody who says he is a presidential aspirant claims he is the most qualified,” the Minister said.

“Even when you were governor of a state and President Bola Tinubu was governor of Lagos State, can you compare notes? This is a man who tamed the Atlantic Ocean as a young governor of Lagos State. There are so many things President Bola Tinubu did to prove that he is a born leader. Talk is very cheap.”

Umahi argued that leadership requires courage, resilience and the ability to solve complex national challenges, qualities he said President Tinubu continues to demonstrate.

“There are challenges, but when God is with you, you’ll be seeing solutions. Life did not promise us there would be no challenges. The important thing is to have the courage to face those challenges, and that is what President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is doing,” he added.

The Minister also highlighted recent presidential approvals for major road projects, including the release of funds for Section One of the Fourth Legacy Road Project covering the 125-kilometre Akwanga-Jos corridor.

“Just yesterday, the President directed the immediate release of funds for Section One of the Fourth Legacy Project, which is Akwanga-Jos, 125 kilometres,” he disclosed.

Earlier, Director of Advanced Engineering Consultant (AEC), Mr. Olatinwo Tomilola Alatinwo, said the revised Carter Bridge design would significantly improve navigation and future transportation needs.

“The new bridge will be 12 metres high. It takes care of both today’s demand and future demand,” he said.

Similarly, the Project Manager of CCECC Nigeria Limited, Mr. Dang Yinan, assured the Federal Government of the company’s readiness to commence work immediately.

“Following Your Excellency’s directive and our mobilization plan, next week Monday we will start accessing the site. We will try our best,” he pledged.

The planned reconstruction of Eko Bridge and construction of the new Carter Bridge are expected to significantly improve traffic flow, enhance marine transportation, strengthen urban connectivity, and support economic activities within Nigeria’s commercial capital.