President Jonathan says Second River Niger Bridge ready in 4 years

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday in Onitsha, Anambra State, performed the groundbreaking ceremony of the 2nd Niger Bridge, calling on the people and governments of Anambra and Delta states to provide enabling environment for the construction works of the bridge to ensure its completion within the  four-year specification period.
Noting that the project was estimated to cost N117billion, the president said, “In my campaign in 2011, I did promise Delta and South East that if I was elected, I would build the 2nd Niger Bridge. It is clear that the 1st Bridge was built by Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe 49 years ago, and I am making this promise that the 2nd Niger Bridge will be built in 4 years’ time”.
He added that the flag-off of the bridge  was to move that solemn pledge to a concrete reality.
Explaining further, the president said that the bridge when completed will reduce the problems of commuters, especially in festive periods as well as improve communication between the South East and South West, saying that the two regions have contributed 70 per cent of the economic development and growth of the nation.
He said, “The first groundbreaking ceremony was done by former president Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and for obvious reasons, government did not take into consideration certain factors that caused the delay and to ensure the take-off of construction works. What I have done today is to ensure that groundbreaking works commence”. He added that the project is expected to be delivered in four years’ time.
While commending Governors Peter Obi and Emmanuel Uduaghan for their support and interest in infrastructural development, especially in ensuring that the 2nd Niger Bridge commenced, President Jonathan noted that the bridge, when completed, will boost national integration of all the South East and South South geopolitical zones.
The ceremony, which attracted the who is who in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) including all the South East governors except the governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, saw the endorsement of the president for a second term in 2015.
Earlier in his welcome address, the minister of works, Arc. Mike Onolemenen, explained that the River Niger Bridge was built in 1965 and it has remained a crucial South East/South West link over the years.
, adding that  due to the immerse traffic arising from the immense enhanced economic activities on the South East/South West corridor, as well as the poor condition of the aging bridge, the federal government resolved to the construction of the second river Niger Bridge, the procurement of which took about twenty seven months in line with extant due process.
Noting that the federal government is executing the river Niger Bridge project under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement for a concession period of twenty five years, the Minister disclosed that the second Niger Bridge is 1,590meters long, that forms part of the 11.90kilometer length project, expected to be constructed in the sum of N117bn of which the federal government had contributed N40bn.
The Minister said, “To complement and add value to the second Niger Bridge, the federal government with the support of the World Bank, will commence the procurement and construction of two bye-passes to the second Niger Bridge, the first bye-pass will be a connecting dual carriage from arterial route A232, Benin-Asaba Expressway, By passing and its airport to link the second Niger Bridge, the second bye-pass will also be a connecting dual carriage from arterial route A23, Onitsha-Enugu expressway to arterial route A6,Onitsha-Owerri expressway which is a major part of the second Niger Bridge”.
 Source: Leadership