From EMMANUEL UZOR
After many years of playing a high powered politics with the construction of the second bridge across the River Niger, the gat...eway to the South East geopolitical zone, President Goodluck Jonathan has finally made his promise come to fruition with the flag off of the construction of the bridge. Interestingly, the politics of the second bridge which undoubtedly is the main entrance into the South Eastern parts of Nigeria had been and remained insoluble and so to say, looked unrealizable before Monday, 10th March when President Goodluck Jonathan officially flagged off the construction of the project.
However, the pains of the people of the zone were not because of the failure of the successive administrations in the country to deliver on their campaign promises which the second Niger bridge had been the major stroke, but their woes are often compounded by the seemingly deteriorating condition of the only bridge that connects Ndigbo to the rest of the ethnic nationalities.
However, before the colonial era, canoes were the only means of crossing River Niger which is the boundary between Asaba, the capital of the present day Delta state and the commercial city of Onitsha in Anambra State. Then, during the advent of colonial administration that ushered in a modicum of improvement and civilization, the introduction of ferry services came to be.
It therefore became very imperative that the successive administrations in the country should have commenced the construction of the second Niger bridge long before now owing to the importance and threat the existing bridge pose to Nigerians in their large numbers who are often conscripted to travel with their lives in their palm on the existing bridge.
However, in a solemn but shot progamme that marked the commencement of the construction of the much awaited second Niger bridge, President Goodluck Jonathan said the present administration was committed to the construction of the bridge as one of the landmark achievements of his administration.
President Jonathan while performing the groundbreaking ceremony at the Krisoral ground, Atani, Ogbaru council area of Anambra state, to mark the commencement of the construction of the bridge awarded to German construction giant, Julius Berger at the cost of over N117 billion disclosed that the construction of the second Niger Bridge was critical to his administration’s resolve to improve the economic fortunes of the country, adding that in fulfillment of his campaign promises, he came to perform the groundbreaking ceremony shortly before Governor Peter Obi leaves office next week.
The President while commending the efforts and resilience of Governor Obi in making sure that the project is actualized also assured that that the bridge will be built to last for so long, while reiterating the readiness of his administration to monitor the progress of work at the bridge.
“It is my resolve and that of my administration to ensure the unity bridge is built to connect Asaba and Onitsha. I want to urge the Governors of Anambra and Delta states to ensure that the project is built on time and specification. The essence of monitoring the progress of work at the bridge is to ensure timely completion of the second Niger Bridge. We have every reason to deliver the second Niger Bridge”
Governor Peter Obi of Anambra state expressed happiness that at last; the construction of second Niger Bridge had come to reality, while assuring that the project when completed will increase the economic activities in the entire country and South East at large.
“Mr. President, I don’t need to tell you how happy my people are, it is evident that the people of the South East and Nigeria at large are happy that today, you are building the second Niger Bridge. It is the most important project that will connect all the communities to the other, now people from this part of the country can travel to any parts of the country and even outside the Sub regions. We have confidence that the bridge will be built to last”
Governor Obi also commended President Jonathan for effectively ensuring speedy construction of Zik’s mausoleum which he said would ensure that the spirit of the former President of Nigeria rests in peace in his final resting place.
The Minister for Works, Mr. Mike Onolemenen said the project as part of the transformation agenda of Mr. President is to improve the infrastructure and socio-economic activities of the nation and that the federal government is executing the project under the Public Private Partnership, PPP arrangement for a concession period of 25 years through Design Build Finance, Operate and Transfer, DPFOT model.
Mr. Onolemenen said the second Niger Bridge is 1590 metres long and forms part of the 11.90 km length project which construction cost is put at N117, 860, 700, 741. 82 vat inclusive, adding that the construction of the second Niger Bridge will last for 48 months.
The Chairman, South East Governors’ Forum and Governor of Abia state, Chief Theodore Orji said Mr. President with this latest development have shown that South East is of great importance in the Nigerian project and said the bridge which will serve as a gateway to the Southern part of Nigeria will boost economic activities of the people and solve the problem of loss of man’s hours being spent on the existing Niger bridge.
Governor Orji said “Mr. President, you have shown your love for the country and the people of the South East in particular; you have shown today that you are a man of your words and we have every cause to believe you and your transformation agenda which has helped reposition the country and put us back to track. We shall be happy because the second Niger Bridge which you flagged off shall increase the economic potentials of the people of this zone”
The Governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan assured President Jonathan that his state and Anambra would ensure complete monitoring of the project to make sure that it is delivered as and when due in line with Mr. President’s agenda and thanked the President for fulfilling his campaign promises.
The Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu said the project is a dream fulfilled through while extolling the leadership qualities of President Goodluck Jonathan whom he said had demonstrated an uncommon love for Ndigbo and Nigeria at large by the commencement of the second Niger Bridge.
Hon Anslem Bada, the Coordinator, National Support for Jonathan/Sambo West Africa said Nigeria is born again with the commencement of the second Niger Bridge and urged Mr. President to present himself for re-election in 2015. “we are happy today that at the end the second Niger Bridge is being constructed and it goes ahead to show that with this, Nigeria is born again”
In her own remarks, the Coordinating Minister for Economy and Minister for Finance, Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala described the groundbreaking ceremony as an epoch making event that marked the turn-around in the country’s socio-economic life, adding that Mr. President was committed to the completion of the project.
She thanked the people of the South East especially the out-going Governor Peter Obi for being on their feet to pressurize the federal government to fulfill the promise of delivering the second Niger bridge before the expiration of the present administration and expressed optimism that with the new development, the country is going to witness a tremendous improvement in commerce and industry.
Member representing Anaocha/Dunukofia/Njikoka federal constituency, Mrs. Uche Ekwunife also lauded Mr. President for coming to the commercial city of Onitsha within a short period of week interval to flag off the construction of the second Niger Bridge which she said would enhance economic fortunes of the people of the country.
Mrs. Ekwunife further expressed happiness that finally, the people of the South East geopolitical zone would have cause to smile again that the much awaited second Niger Bridge has come to reality, adding “Mr. President is committed to the construction of the second Niger bridge which is evident in the type of construction company that got the contract, we all know that Julius Berger is a very serious construction firm and can be trusted”
The President was accompanied by the Governors of Abia, Chief Theodore Orji, Ebonyi, Chief Martin Elechi, Delta, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan and Deputy Governor Enugu state, Chief Sunday Onyebuchi while Ministers including the Coordinating Minister for Economy and Minister of Finance, Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Labaram Maku and Senators, Ayogu Eze, Ken Nnamani, Andy Uba and Joy Emodi and Deputy Speaker House of Representatives, Chief Emeka Ihedioha also attended.
However, the pains of the people of the zone were not because of the failure of the successive administrations in the country to deliver on their campaign promises which the second Niger bridge had been the major stroke, but their woes are often compounded by the seemingly deteriorating condition of the only bridge that connects Ndigbo to the rest of the ethnic nationalities.
However, before the colonial era, canoes were the only means of crossing River Niger which is the boundary between Asaba, the capital of the present day Delta state and the commercial city of Onitsha in Anambra State. Then, during the advent of colonial administration that ushered in a modicum of improvement and civilization, the introduction of ferry services came to be.
It therefore became very imperative that the successive administrations in the country should have commenced the construction of the second Niger bridge long before now owing to the importance and threat the existing bridge pose to Nigerians in their large numbers who are often conscripted to travel with their lives in their palm on the existing bridge.
However, in a solemn but shot progamme that marked the commencement of the construction of the much awaited second Niger bridge, President Goodluck Jonathan said the present administration was committed to the construction of the bridge as one of the landmark achievements of his administration.
President Jonathan while performing the groundbreaking ceremony at the Krisoral ground, Atani, Ogbaru council area of Anambra state, to mark the commencement of the construction of the bridge awarded to German construction giant, Julius Berger at the cost of over N117 billion disclosed that the construction of the second Niger Bridge was critical to his administration’s resolve to improve the economic fortunes of the country, adding that in fulfillment of his campaign promises, he came to perform the groundbreaking ceremony shortly before Governor Peter Obi leaves office next week.
The President while commending the efforts and resilience of Governor Obi in making sure that the project is actualized also assured that that the bridge will be built to last for so long, while reiterating the readiness of his administration to monitor the progress of work at the bridge.
“It is my resolve and that of my administration to ensure the unity bridge is built to connect Asaba and Onitsha. I want to urge the Governors of Anambra and Delta states to ensure that the project is built on time and specification. The essence of monitoring the progress of work at the bridge is to ensure timely completion of the second Niger Bridge. We have every reason to deliver the second Niger Bridge”
Governor Peter Obi of Anambra state expressed happiness that at last; the construction of second Niger Bridge had come to reality, while assuring that the project when completed will increase the economic activities in the entire country and South East at large.
“Mr. President, I don’t need to tell you how happy my people are, it is evident that the people of the South East and Nigeria at large are happy that today, you are building the second Niger Bridge. It is the most important project that will connect all the communities to the other, now people from this part of the country can travel to any parts of the country and even outside the Sub regions. We have confidence that the bridge will be built to last”
Governor Obi also commended President Jonathan for effectively ensuring speedy construction of Zik’s mausoleum which he said would ensure that the spirit of the former President of Nigeria rests in peace in his final resting place.
The Minister for Works, Mr. Mike Onolemenen said the project as part of the transformation agenda of Mr. President is to improve the infrastructure and socio-economic activities of the nation and that the federal government is executing the project under the Public Private Partnership, PPP arrangement for a concession period of 25 years through Design Build Finance, Operate and Transfer, DPFOT model.
Mr. Onolemenen said the second Niger Bridge is 1590 metres long and forms part of the 11.90 km length project which construction cost is put at N117, 860, 700, 741. 82 vat inclusive, adding that the construction of the second Niger Bridge will last for 48 months.
The Chairman, South East Governors’ Forum and Governor of Abia state, Chief Theodore Orji said Mr. President with this latest development have shown that South East is of great importance in the Nigerian project and said the bridge which will serve as a gateway to the Southern part of Nigeria will boost economic activities of the people and solve the problem of loss of man’s hours being spent on the existing Niger bridge.
Governor Orji said “Mr. President, you have shown your love for the country and the people of the South East in particular; you have shown today that you are a man of your words and we have every cause to believe you and your transformation agenda which has helped reposition the country and put us back to track. We shall be happy because the second Niger Bridge which you flagged off shall increase the economic potentials of the people of this zone”
The Governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan assured President Jonathan that his state and Anambra would ensure complete monitoring of the project to make sure that it is delivered as and when due in line with Mr. President’s agenda and thanked the President for fulfilling his campaign promises.
The Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu said the project is a dream fulfilled through while extolling the leadership qualities of President Goodluck Jonathan whom he said had demonstrated an uncommon love for Ndigbo and Nigeria at large by the commencement of the second Niger Bridge.
Hon Anslem Bada, the Coordinator, National Support for Jonathan/Sambo West Africa said Nigeria is born again with the commencement of the second Niger Bridge and urged Mr. President to present himself for re-election in 2015. “we are happy today that at the end the second Niger Bridge is being constructed and it goes ahead to show that with this, Nigeria is born again”
In her own remarks, the Coordinating Minister for Economy and Minister for Finance, Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala described the groundbreaking ceremony as an epoch making event that marked the turn-around in the country’s socio-economic life, adding that Mr. President was committed to the completion of the project.
She thanked the people of the South East especially the out-going Governor Peter Obi for being on their feet to pressurize the federal government to fulfill the promise of delivering the second Niger bridge before the expiration of the present administration and expressed optimism that with the new development, the country is going to witness a tremendous improvement in commerce and industry.
Member representing Anaocha/Dunukofia/Njikoka federal constituency, Mrs. Uche Ekwunife also lauded Mr. President for coming to the commercial city of Onitsha within a short period of week interval to flag off the construction of the second Niger Bridge which she said would enhance economic fortunes of the people of the country.
Mrs. Ekwunife further expressed happiness that finally, the people of the South East geopolitical zone would have cause to smile again that the much awaited second Niger Bridge has come to reality, adding “Mr. President is committed to the construction of the second Niger bridge which is evident in the type of construction company that got the contract, we all know that Julius Berger is a very serious construction firm and can be trusted”
The President was accompanied by the Governors of Abia, Chief Theodore Orji, Ebonyi, Chief Martin Elechi, Delta, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan and Deputy Governor Enugu state, Chief Sunday Onyebuchi while Ministers including the Coordinating Minister for Economy and Minister of Finance, Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Labaram Maku and Senators, Ayogu Eze, Ken Nnamani, Andy Uba and Joy Emodi and Deputy Speaker House of Representatives, Chief Emeka Ihedioha also attended.
Ends
