Nigerian government spends N157bn on second Niger bridge

The Nigerian government, says it has so far spent N157bn on the Second Niger Bridge project.

the project which is carried out by the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF) and managed by the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) is now confirmed to be ready by October 2022.

Zainah Ahmed, the finance minister, confirmed the funding and the completion date on Saturday during an inspection tour of the bridge, to ascertain the level of work at the construction site.

The visit came barely three weeks after Ibrahim Gambari, chief of staff to the president equally toured the construction site to ascertain the extent of work on the bridge.

According to the Finance Minister, the bridge when completed will not only ease the traffic gridlock usually experienced in the area but will enhance commercial and other business activities within the communities.

“This is one of the very important projects in the country at about N206bn and we have been able to fund this project to the tune of N157bn…”  the significance of today is that the two ends of the bridge are being linked together, which is the final phase of the work,” she said.

She expressed satisfaction with the level and standard of the construction under Julius Berger Nig Limited, and that she can now report to President Buhari about her findings on the bridge, which according to her “is very dear to the President.”

“We hope that when this project comes on stream, it will ease traffic, enhance commercial activities and improve the lives of the people of the state. I am happy to see the ladies I am seeing at the construction site, not all men. Julius Berger has brought some very unique innovations in the construction of this project and I want to, on behalf of the government and people of Nigeria applaud the skills of the construction workers that have been working on this site.”

Ahmed further commended Julius Berger for utilizing over fifty percent of the workforce from the communities around, thereby creating about 20,000 jobs so far.

The 2nd Niger Bridge is being funded by the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF) created by President Buhari to accelerate the completion of key infrastructure projects, including the Lagos Ibadan Expressway and the Abuja Kaduna, Kano road.

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