FG commits N31 billion to 2nd Niger Bridge project — Minister

The federal government has committed N31 billon to the main
works of the second Niger Bridge project.

The Minister of State for Power, Works and Housing, Mustapha
Shehuri said this on Friday in Onitsha during an inspection of the
ongoing Federal Government roads and bridge projects in Anambra
State.

According to him, N206 billion is the contract sum of the main
work on the second Niger Bridge which started in November 2018.

The minister said the project was expected to be completed in 42
months and that the contractor had so far done 17 per cent of the
work within four months.

He expressed satisfaction over the pace of work, adding that the
project would be delivered on schedule, if the current speed was
maintained.

Mr Shehuri pledged the commitment of the federal government to
ensure prompt and adequate funding of the project.

The minister appealed to owners of land and property affected by
the project to show understanding with the contractor.

He said that the federal government was taking the necessary
steps to resolve all compensation issues on the project.

“I want to appeal to the people seeking compensation to
cooperate with the contractor because at the end of the project, it
will be for their direct benefit

“Projects like this must be built on land or sea and so, must
affect people; so we need to show understanding.

“The federal government is ready to resolve all issues of
compensation arising from the project,” he said.

Ajani Adeyemo, the Federal Controller of Works in Anambra, said
the federal government had committed about N3.5 billion on
compensation related to the project.

He said there were compensation problems and that efforts were
being made to resolve the few minor outstanding payments.

(NAN)