The decade-old 2nd Niger Bridge, linking Asaba, Delta State with Onitsha in Anambra State and other South-East States was, Tuesday, inaugurated by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The 1.6 km bridge is named after the outgoing Nigerian leader, President Buhari and its colourful inauguration took place at Àsaba, Delta State capital.
Buhari, who inaugurated the bridge via Zoom described it as one of the critical infrastructures delivered by his administration to fight poverty, promote economic growth and ensure progress for the people.
Also read: FG completes Second Niger Bridge awaiting inauguration- Minister
He noted that the bridge and other projects being commissioned symbolised his administration’s sharp focus on delivering prosperity across the country.
“I am honoured to hand over this bridge and other projects for public use. The bridge will reduce travel time and promote economic activities in the South East, South-South and other parts of the country.
“Those crossing the old Niger bridge will no longer experience gridlock as it will help to improve the socio-economic activities of the South-East. In eight years, I am proud to say that we have developed Nigeria’s stock of infrastructure of Gross Domestic Products from about 20 per cent to over 40 per cent and that is not a small undertaken.”
On the naming of the bridge after him, the President said he was not consulted before the bridge was named after him.
Speaking earlier, the Minister of Works, Babatunde Fashola, who also joined the event via Zoom, said, “This is a clear case of how infrastructure supports the people. It will take only a few minutes to cross the bridge of approximately 1.5 km, travel time is reduced by 50 per cent. By this bridge, various properties in the area have appreciated.”
“After consultation with the state governors and other critical stakeholders, we decided to name the bridge Muhammadu Buhari Bridge.”
The Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa said the bridge would help boost the nation’s economy and ease of doing business between Delta and Anambra states.
Okowa, whose address was read by his Chief of Staff, Mr Ovie Agas, said that the 2nd Niger Bridge would create jobs and enhance economic growth within the two states.
Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, commended Buhari for keeping to his campaign promises of completing and delivering the bridge to the people of South-East.
“I am personally overjoyed. Today is a day of joy, we have come to express our gratitude. History is being made today, the people of the South-East have agitated, and we have complained about five key infrastructure projects.
“These five key projects, which were supposed to be a game changer to the economy of the South-East are the dredging of the River Niger, the second happens to be the 2nd Niger bridge, the third is the expressway that will lead from Anambra directly to Lokoja and the fourth are the gas pipeline and the fifth obviously is the railway line.
“Of these five projects, it is our pleasure that we have come to tick good to one of them and a major one at that, and that is the 2n Niger Bridge.”
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, who represented Buhari physically at the event, said, “Today is a great day for us.
‘‘It is a day we have come together to rejoice. It is a promise given and a promise kept. This bridge signifies the major handshake between the West, East and the North.
“Successive governments have come and gone since 1965 when this 2nd Niger Bridge was first muted, but Buhari’s administration has deemed it fit to complete the bridge. In every project, there must be a hero and a hero must be named after every project and the hero of this project is President Buhari.”
Earlier, the Managing Director of Julius Berger, Dr Lars Richter, had said that it was an honour for them to be part of this success story of delivering the 2nd Niger Bridge to the people of Delta and Anambra.
How the contract was awarded
Recall that in August 2012, the Federal Executive Council under Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, approved the contract worth ₦325 million for the final planning and design of the bridge, but the untimely death of President Musa Yar’adua stalled the project.
The second Niger Bridge was re-awarded to Julius Berger (Nig.) Ltd. at N14.4 billion by Buhari in 2017.
The construction work on the Second Niger Bridge which kicked off on March 10, 2016 is one of the five signature projects outlined by the Buhari administration in the South Eastern zone, which is now officially opened for public use.
Though the existing Niger Bridge was opened for traffic in December 1965, the late Prime Minister Alhaji Tafawa Balewa officially inaugurated it on January 4, 1966 before his assassination on January 15, 1966.
