Second Niger Bridge: FG Saves N300bn From New Design

Second Niger Bridge: FG Saves N300bn From New Design

By Aisha Musa

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has said that the new design of the Onitsha axis of the second Niger bridge has saved the nation up to N300 billion.

Umahi disclosed this in Asaba, Delta when he led the management of the ministry on an inspection tour of the bypass to the bridge, down to Onitsha.

A statement on the tour issued on Monday in Abuja by Mr Orji Orji, the minister’s Special Adviser on Media, quoted Umahi as saying “We saw that the design was defective and we agreed on designing a new one.

“That was how we saved the country over N300 billion by that singular movement to that location.

Orjis stated that other project sites visited by the minister included the upgrading of the 15km section of the East-West road section III, Port Harcourt – Eleme Junction to Onne Junction in Rivers, being handled by RCC.

He stated that the minister also inspected the Enugu- Port Harcourt expressway section 3 which is under rehabilitation, the Enugu-Lokpanta section being handled by CGC and the rehabilitation work at the collapsed bridge site at the New Artisan Bridge in Enugu.

He said the minister expressed satisfaction with the progress of work and charged contractors to step up their pace to cover a milestone ahead of the rainy season.

Orji said the minister disclosed that the federal government was upgrading the 15km road between Eleme flyover and Onne junction and starting with excavation to fill all the failed sections to make them stable.

According to him, the minister expressed the federal government’s commitment to building enduring road infrastructure at the loweOrji quoted the minister as urging the contractors to always consider the sufferings of the road users as they set up their work plans.

Umahi was also quoted as urging them to ensure that the roads under construction were made passable for commuters during the rainy season. NAN