President Goodluck Jonathan has commended the people of the South-East and
\nSouth-South zones for their patience over delays in the construction of
\nthe 2nd Niger Bridge.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy sincere promise during my campaign is today made a reality to the good
\npeople of the South-East and South-South,\u2019\u2019 Jonathan said before
\nperforming the groundbreaking of the bridge.<\/p>\n
The president performed the ceremony in Atani, near Onitsha, Anambra on
\nMonday.<\/p>\n
The dual carriageway bridge, designed to be 1,590m long, is scheduled to
\nbe completed in four years by Messrs Julius Berger Construction Company.<\/p>\n
Jonathan said the Federal Government was building two important bridges
\nacross the two great Rivers in the country \u2013 Niger and Benue \u2013for the
\nbenefit of Nigerians.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe construction of the second bridge across River Benue is going on
\nsmoothly and this one would follow suit immediately from now.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis bridge, when completed, would alleviate the movement difficulties of
\nour people and improve commerce and trade of our people, especially
\ncongestion witnessed during festive seasons.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt will not only serve the people of these areas but all Nigerians and
\nthe West African sub-region.\u2019\u2019
\nJonathan added that \u201cthe bridge would be key to the economic development
\nof the South-East and South-South zones.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
He said the Federal Government had committed 25 per cent of the total cost
\nof the bridge and that other funding for the project would come in due
\ncourse.<\/p>\n
Jonathan urged the governors of Anambra and Delta through which the bridge
\nwould pass, to provide a favourable environment for the construction to
\nensure its timely completion.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis bridge and the National Conference, which would be inaugurated by
\nnext week, Monday, in Abuja, are two vital components of our national
\ncohesion and unity,\u2019\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n
Gov. Theodore Orji of Abia, on behalf of the South-East Governors Forum,
\nthanked God for the president for his vision of always thinking of the
\nwelfare and wellbeing of Nigerian.<\/p>\n
\u201cDemocracy is all about the people; since you have been our president,
\nyour major concern is about the people\u2019s welfare.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd for this and other things you have done for the South-East, we have
\nto pay you back,\u2019\u2019 he said.
\nGov. Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta said that the wish of the South-South
\npeople was that Mr President would also inaugurate the bridge in the next
\nfour years.<\/p>\n
Uduaghan promised the safety of the workers and equipment of the
\nconstruction company.<\/p>\n
Gov. Peter Obi of Anambra thanked the president for a promise fulfilled as
\nwell as the enviable status accorded Ndi-Igbo.<\/p>\n
\u201cMr President, you have made us proud as Ndi-Igbo and you have made us to
\nbe part of the country as well as given a fitting state burial to Chief
\nChukwuemeka Ojukwu.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd we would not fail to thank you for removing the Obi-and-Sons
\nContractor, who was earlier awarded this project to a competent
\ncontractor, who we can trust to do a good job and having the manpower and
\nequipment needed to deliver at set schedule and quality,\u2019\u2019 he noted.<\/p>\n
The Minister of Works, Mr Mike Onolemenen, said that the ministry in 2013
\ncommenced phase I of the project, including survey, morphodynamics study
\nand soil investigation.<\/p>\n
Onolemenen said the construction of the bridge would cost N117.8 billion,
\nwhile government was executing the project under the
\nPublic-Private-Partnership arrangement for a concession period of 25
\nyears.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet me at this juncture appreciate the Co-ordinating Minister for the
\nEconomy and Honourable Minister of Finance for her strong support in this
\nproject and for facilitating the World Bank support in the proposed
\nconstruction of the two by-passes,\u2019\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n
The Managing Director of Julius Berger, Mr. Wolfgang Goetsch, said the
\ncompany was happy to be part of \u201cthis historic project\u2019\u2019 and part of the
\ndevelopment of the country within its over 45 years operation in Nigeria.<\/p>\n
Gash promised that the company would meet the project\u2019s schedule and
\nquality; adding: \u201cThis bridge is a legacy and we look forward for its
\nearly commissioning by Mr President.\u2019\u2019 (NAN)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
President Goodluck Jonathan has commended the people of the South-East and South-South zones for their patience over delays in the construction of the 2nd Niger Bridge. \u201cMy sincere promise during…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":24078,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-24084","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-exclusive"],"yoast_head":"\n