Sanwo-Olu's Countdown: Will Fourth Mainland Bridge See Light Before 2027?
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has openly acknowledged the dwindling days of his administration, stating he has 413 days left in office during a recent projects commissioning event. He emphasized a commitment to doubling efforts on infrastructure as his term winds down, but a critical question looms: will the long-awaited Fourth Mainland Bridge finally commence construction before his exit in 2027?
Infrastructure Push Amidst Time Constraints
In his speech, Sanwo-Olu declared, "In the 400-plus days that lie ahead of our administration, we will double down on our investments in infrastructure, the strengthening of our institutions, and intentional improvements in the quality of life for all Lagosians." He added that winding down is not an excuse to slow down, but rather an opportunity to ramp up momentum. However, despite this pledge, the Fourth Mainland Bridge was conspicuously absent from his list of highlighted projects for 2026, which included hospitals, roads, and metro rail developments.
A History of Delays and Unfulfilled Promises
The Fourth Mainland Bridge, first proposed in 2006, has been a recurring theme across multiple Lagos administrations, including those of Bola Tinubu, Babatunde Fashola, Akinwunmi Ambode, and now Sanwo-Olu. In December 2022, the Chinese CCECC-CRCCIG Consortium was announced as the preferred bidder, with Sanwo-Olu initially promising construction to start in early 2023, then delaying to March-April 2024. As of now, 15 months after the last announced commencement date, no flag-off has occurred.
Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat cited challenges in late 2024, noting that galloping inflation and unstable exchange rates have tripled the initial budget, complicating negotiations with contractors. The project, originally budgeted at $2.2 billion and revised to around $2.5 billion, involves a public-private partnership and is designed as a 38-km tolled corridor with nine interchanges and a 4.5-km lagoon crossing, poised to become Africa's second longest bridge.
Recent Omissions and Presidential Nudge
During a New Year thanksgiving service and a two-day projects commissioning event this week, Sanwo-Olu failed to mention the Fourth Mainland Bridge, a departure from past practices where such opportunities were used to update on the project. This silence contrasts with President Bola Tinubu's recent message, urging Sanwo-Olu to prioritize the bridge and other impactful projects for Lagosians. Tinubu praised Sanwo-Olu's achievements, such as completing rail lines, but stressed the importance of delivering the long-awaited bridge.
The project has faced setbacks before, including a terminated Memorandum of Understanding with private partners in the past due to construction delays. Despite shortlisting six companies in 2020 and announcing a preferred bidder, the bridge remains on paper, raising stakeholder concerns about its feasibility before Sanwo-Olu's term ends.
