Abuja – December 04, 2023 – Viewpoint Housing News.
The Federal Government of Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to provide long-lasting road infrastructure that complies with international standards and enhances the Renewed Hope administration’s economic recovery action plan.
This was stated in the message delivered by the Hon. Minister of Works, Sen. Nweze David Umahi, on Sunday, December 3, 2023, at the 2nd Niger Bridge toll station, upon receiving the finished Second Niger Bridge project and its auxiliary facilities from the project’s contractor, Messr Julius Berger Nigeria (JBN) Plc. “We are here to assume control of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc’s finished construction on the Second Niger Bridge and a few access roads. We are happy with the work performed and the project circle that was finished under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s term. We express our gratitude to the previous administration for their significant efforts in completing this project, as well as to my predecessor, Babatunde Raji Fashola, who was the Hon. Minister of Works that handled this project The work is flawless, and expertly finished.
The Minister of State declared that his Ministry would endeavour to install solar-powered lighting throughout the completed project, complete the two bridge interchanges, obtain additional land from the State Government for the purpose of establishing service stations, and install CCTV cameras to ensure road safety in accordance with the President’s latest innovations in road infrastructure. Additionally, the Ministry intends to use the HDMI programme to concession the project.
“We have a problem with light and will work together to find a permanent solution, particularly for nighttime use, along the completed road. We have decided on solar power.” Once the two interchanges are finished, the road project will be finished completely. When both of these tasks are finished, the job will be considered fully accomplished. The first involves removing road users from Asaba town so that anyone approaching this bridge won’t have to pass through Asaba town to encounter traffic. The second involves removing road users from Onitsha town to avoid traffic. RCC and Julius Berger have been suggested to take over the respective roles.
However, in the event that an investor is willing to provide the funding for the two interchanges, we will concession the two projects to them under our HDMI programme. Additionally, we plan to purchase additional land in order to build service stations, and we will work with the private sector to construct public buildings such as restaurants, supermarkets, hotels, filling stations, and other facilities, as is customary in the West. “And naturally, in order to give you access to security within this axis as quickly as possible, we are going to install CCTV cameras and dispatch security personnel to ensure security surveillance along the road.”
The Hon. Minister also said tha,t although Federal Government is taking over the completed 2nd Niger Bridge, the contractor shall still be liable within the defect liability period and so if anything goes wrong in the completed job, the contractor will be called upon to fix it. He added that the toll would be activated the moment the two interchanges are fixed.
and that he can run that road, including the toll station”.
It is to be noted that the contract awarded to Julius Berger Nigeria ( JBN) Plc is for the construction of 2nd Niger Bridge linking Anambra and Delta States, Contract No. 6475 and construction of access road from existing Benin- Asaba Expressway to approach link road to 2nd Niger Bridge,Contract No 7919.
