Importance Of Media: The TV Narrative That Prompted The Construction Of 3rd Mainland Bridge—IBB

Importance Of Media

OpenLife News reports that former military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB), has revealed how a foreign television report describing the abandoned 3rd Mainland Bridge as a symbol of African failure prompted him to complete the project.

IBB disclosed this while recounting the history behind the construction of the iconic bridge, which today remains one of Nigeria’s most important infrastructure landmarks.According to him, the idea of the bridge was first conceived in the early 1970s.

On August 28, 1973, the Lagos State government commissioned NIDAN Consult, an engineering company, to carry out the preliminary study of the project. By 1975, the federal government took over.

On July 26, 1976, the first phase was awarded to PGH Joint Venture. The phase, which cost about N560 million, was completed in 1978 and commissioned by then Head of State, General Olusegun Obasanjo.

The project was, however, abandoned after that first phase.Newswatch Magazine of September 2, 1991 captured the abandonment and revival, noting that the foundation stone of the last phase, the Oworonshoki-end, was laid by Babangida on August 17, 1987, after he had requested Julius Berger Plc and PGH Joint Venture to ensure the bridge was completed by his 50th birthday on August 17, 1991.

The target was met, though at a higher cost, which rose from N582 million in 1987 to N1.2 billion due to inflation and changes in scope.

Years later, IBB explained what truly motivated him to complete the bridge:

“If I remember very well, in 1982 or 83, I saw a programme, ‘The Squandering of Riches’, on an American television channel.

They were reporting on some of the white elephant projects that African governments embarked upon.

I watched as the lead presenter climbed the abandoned 3rd Mainland Bridge and as he talked, he gave it as an example of how African governments embarked on projects and never completed them.

“And when he got to the point where the construction stopped then, he said nobody could tell where the construction was leading to at that time and that he was of the opinion that it could well lead to oblivion.

“That struck me and informed my desire to change that narrative. I saw it as an insult, a foreigner talking about my country in that manner.

“I also saw it as something I needed to do something about if given the opportunity.“That was what happened. And fortunately, as God would have it, in 1985, I was appointed the military president.

“I remember the thing very well. It is in my head. I told myself I was going to ensure the completion of the project.”

Babangida said he immediately summoned the then military governor of Lagos State, Colonel Raji Rasaki, for a meeting.

“We sat down and had a good chat about it. As usual, he said, ‘Well, this is a state government. We probably don’t have the money to complete it.’ And I said, ‘No, let’s put our resources together and see what we can do.”

He said he brought together Julius Berger, PGH, Bank Anthony, an Italian contractor, and the Lagos State government and challenged them on whether completion was possible.

“They all looked at me and said yes, it was doable provided I was going to provide the money. And I said money won’t be a problem, because the state government, Federal Government and PGH were going to provide the money…

“I said, ‘I will have to commission this bridge on any of my birthday.’

“That was a challenge I gave the engineers and they took it very seriously.”According to IBB, funds were made available to avoid delays and engineers were mobilised to site.

“By God’s grace, they fulfilled their promise and on my next birthday, I commissioned that bridge. It was the longest bridge in Africa at that time and mostly built by Africans. I did not spend up to N1 billion on that bridge.

“Today, you have to spend about N1 trillion to build that bridge. You see the bridge still standing strong. It will continue to stand strong because the government is doing well with it; they are maintaining it.”