Senate praises 2nd Niger Bridge contractors

Contractor, Julius Berger Plc, handling construction works of the 2nd Niger Bridge has been commended on the quality of work being done.

THE Senate eight-member Committee on works gave the commendation when it inspected both the Asaba and Onitsha ends of the bridge.

The committee members also inspected the seven kilometres access road from the bridge at the Atani road to the Onitsha –Owerri interchange where the project would terminate.

Chairman of the committee, Senator Adamu Aileru observed that at the rate the project was progressing, the bridge would be completed on the scheduled date of 2022.

According to him, “We are sure that if the contractors sustain what they are doing now within the period stated in the contract, which is February 2022, the job will be completed on schedule.

“They are operating at the highest level of engineering design. Adequate measures have been taken by the contractors to avoid mistakes of the past on the first Niger Bridge The design was done in such a way that the bridge when fully constructed, will last for at least 100 years.

“We are highly impressed that the contractor is doing a good job and so far, we have not seen anything to complain about.

“The funding arrangement for the 2nd Niger Bridge is properly in place. While most of the contractors executing projects under the federal ministry of works are complaining of inadequate funding, this project is one that is not suffering from lack of funds. Adequate arrangements have been made to fund it within the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority, NSIA, and the recovered looted funds by the government.”

Aileru also expressed happiness that many Nigerian engineers were involved in the project, adding that no fewer than 75% of the labour were Nigerians.