President Goodluck Jonathan, on Saturday said his administration is working hard to ensure that the construction of second Niger Bridge is completed within 14 months. The president made this promise when he paid a courtesy call on the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe.
Before visiting the monarch, he was at the construction site to inspect work on the project. The dismissed reports by the opposition that work on the project had stopped. “I decided to inspect the Second Niger Bridge before coming because I was hearing stories that no work was going on; I said no and before I go to visit the Obi, I must see things by myself, I don’t want to be told", Jonathan said.
“Your majesty, I’m quite impressed by the level of work going on. Of course, the total value of that project is N130 billion and being done through the Public Private Partnership (PPP) and managed by our Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF).
“So far, N10 billion has been spent and, out of it, N1.5 billion was used for paying for damages and others. In fact, the link road that is about three kilometres from the main road to the bridge, almost 80 percent of the road has been fixed.
“That alone is a major project, obviously work is going on there. For now, about 260 Nigerians and about 50 expatriates are working there.
“But when the work will be in full swing, we expect that it will give about 2,000 young men and women and about 60 expatriates.
“So, the major projects that will occupy a number of people to execute this project, we asked Julius Berger and the Minister of Works, and their commitment is that the project will be completed within 14 months. And they will surely do it.
“I join my chairman of the PDP, to say that God willing, when we come, we will commission that bridge”.
The Obi of Onitsha also used the opportunity to reconcile the former Governor of the State, Peter Obi and his successor in office, Gov. Willie Obiano.
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