FG restates commitment to constructing, rehabilitating 40 major bridges

Chinazor Megbolu |

The Federal Government has restated its commitment towards constructing and rehabilitating 40 major bridges across the country.

The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, disclosed this at the weekend, stressing that the government at the moment is executing construction, rehabilitation and repair works on 40 major bridges in Nigeria.

In a statement issued in Abuja by the Director of Public Relations, Ministry of Works and Housing, Mr. Bode Akinola, Fashola made the disclosure during an inspection tour on the Loko-Oweto Bridge.

The statement explained that works on the bridges are still on in spite of government’s limited revenue.

The Minister also posited that work was ongoing on the Second Niger Bridge, Ikom Bridge and 37 other bridges as well.

Fashola maintained some of the other bridges where works are in progress are; the 3rd Mainland Bridge, Lagos, Isaac Boro Bridge, Port Harcourt, Murtala Mohammed Bridge, Koton Karfi, Tambuwara Bridge, Kano and Chanchangi Bridge, Niger State.

According to him; “this government in spite of very limited resources and having to borrow is simply doing almost the near impossible in terms of infrastructure.

“Mr President continues to give his support and commitment to infrastructure. His understanding of the purpose of infrastructure for growth and development is very clear”.

He, however, said the Loko-Oweto Bridge across the River Benue had offered a shorter route for travellers, which has reduced travel time significantly.

Additionally, Fashola stressed that such move has enhanced wealth redistribution among the local communities.

“The (Loko-Oweto) bridge provides a shorter route, cutting off about four to five hours. For someone coming from Cross River to Abuja by road, ordinarily he will have to go from Calabar to Ikom, Ogoja to Katsina-Ala and then join Markudi, then through Lafia, Keffi and Akwanga into Abuja.

“But now you have a beautification through Oweto to Nasarawa,” Fashola said.