President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday kicked off the construction of the second bridge across River Niger in a grand style with an assurance that the project will be completed on schedule and to specifications.
Performing the groundbreaking ceremony at the Krisoral ground, Atani in Ogbaru Council Area of Anambra State, President Jonathan assured the people of South-East and the rest of the country of timely completion of the project which was awarded to Julius Berger Construction Company.
The president said the construction of the Second Niger Bridge was critical to his administration’s resolve to improve the economic fortunes of the country, adding that in fulfillment of his campaign promises, he came to perform the ground-breaking ceremony before Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State leaves office next week.
He commended the efforts of Governor Obi in ensuring that the project was actualized, noting that the bridge would be built to last for so long. He reiterated the readiness of his administration to monitor the progress of work at the bridge.
His words: “It is my resolve and that of my administration to ensure the unity bridge is built to connect Asaba and Onitsha. I want to urge the governors of Anambra and Delta states to ensure that the project is built on time and to specifications. The essence of monitoring the progress of work at the bridge is to ensure timely completion of the Second Niger Bridge. We have every reason to deliver the Second Niger Bridge.”
Earlier, Governor Obi expressed happiness that at last, the construction of the Second Niger Bridge had come to reality, and assured that the project when completed would increase the economic activities in the entire country and the South East.
He said: “Mr. President, I don’t need to tell you how happy my people are. It is evident that the people of the South-East and Nigeria at large are happy that today, you are building the Second Niger Bridge. It is the most important project that will connect all the communities to the other. Now, people from this part of the country can travel to any parts of the country and even outside the sub-regions. We have confidence that the bridge will be built to last.”
Governor Obi also commended President Jonathan for the speedy construction of Zik’s Mausoleum which he said would ensure that the spirit of the former president of Nigeria rests in peace in his final resting place.
The Minister of Works, Mr. Mike Onolemenen said the project as part of the transformation agenda of Mr. President was to improve the infrastructure and socio-economic activities of the nation, adding that the Federal Government was executing the project under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement for a concession period of 25 years through the Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer (DPFOT) model.
Onolemenen said the Second Niger Bridge is 1,590 metres long and forms part of the 11.90 km length project which construction cost is put at N117, 860, 700, 741. 82 VAT inclusive, adding that the construction of the bridge will last for 48 months.
The new Chairman of South-East Governors’ Forum and Governor of Abia State, Theodore Orji, said with this latest development, President Jonathan had shown that South-East is of great importance in the Nigerian project. He noted that the bridge which would serve as a gateway to the southern part of Nigeria would boost economic activities and solve the gridlocks problem and consequent loss of productive hours on the existing Niger bridge.
Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, described the project as a dream realised and commended the leadership qualities of President Jonathan whom he said had demonstrated an uncommon love for Ndigbo and Nigeria at large by the commencement of the Second Niger Bridge.
REF http://sunnewsonline.com/new/?p=55642
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