Second Niger Bridge has gulped N167bn so far — Finance minister

The Federal Government has so far spent a total of N167 billion out of the N205 billion earmarked for the Second Niger Bridge, which is over 90 percent completed, the minister of Finance, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, has disclosed.

The connecting roads from both Anambra and Delta states end is costing an additional N208 billion, bringing the total value of the contract to N414 billion.

The minister stated this on Saturday while on a fact finding mission to the bridge.

“For me I have seen where all the N167bn has gone to. This is a project that is very dear to the federal government,” she said while adding that when the project comes on stream, it would not only ease the messy traffic logjam usually experienced by the people traveling to and from the eastern states but would also increase economic activities in the area.

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The minister said over 20,000 jobs were created as a result of the project even as she applauded the contracting firm Julius Berger for working tirelessly to ensure the completion of the project as scheduled.

Mrs Ahmed said investors in the the bridge project – the federal government and Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) – were also expecting to recover their investment.

Also speaking, the Managing Director of Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), Mr Uche Orji, said significant compensation has been paid while “there are still more to pay to owners of property on the 17km approach roads on the Anambra and Delta states side of the bridge.”

He reiterated the federal government directive that the issue of compensation should not be treated lightly to ensure that those affected are adequately compensate.

The Anambra state governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo who was represented by his deputy, Dr Onyeka Ibezim expressed satisfaction with the October completion date of the bridge.

He stated: “Let October be October as we are all prepared to use the bridge in October.”

Upon completion, the 1.6 km second Niger bridge will be the first tolled federal bridge and second to the 1.36 km Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge in Lagos.