Second Niger Bridge commissioning set for Tuesday, PMB to join via Zoom
President Muhammadu Buhari will be physically absent at the official commissioning of the Second Niger Bridge scheduled to hold on Tuesday, as reported exclusively by The PUNCH.
Sources in the works ministry, who preferred to remain anonymous, revealed that the N336 billion bridge considered a landmark project, will be commissioned alongside six other road projects by the president via the online platform Zoom.
However, it should be noted that the Lagos-Ibadan expressway is not among the six projects scheduled for commissioning, despite promises by the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, to complete it before April 30.
The sources disclosed that the commissioning of the Second Niger Bridge and the six other road projects is set to take place on May 23, with the president participating remotely through Zoom.
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Preparations are already underway in Asaba, Delta State, where staff of the ministry have gathered for the occasion.
Tolu Ogunlesi, the President’s Special Assistant on Digital and New Media, hinted that some projects would be officially open for public use during the outgoing president’s transition week, including the Second Niger Bridge, the Loko-Oweto Bridge, and the Ikom Bridge in Cross Rivers.
The completion of the Second Niger Bridge was announced by the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, in October 2022, marking the end of almost five decades of unfulfilled promises by previous administrations.
On December 15, 2022, the Federal Government opened the bridge for use to alleviate traffic congestion in the South-East during the festive season.
The proposal for the Second Niger Bridge was first made during the 1978/79 political campaign by then-candidate Shehu Shagari of the National Party of Nigeria. Similar to the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos, the new bridge boasts modern features such as a smooth surface and spacious terrain for a comfortable driving experience.
Notably, it is longer than the old bridge, allowing for the passage of more than six vehicles at a time. Additionally, it incorporates a demarcation separating inbound and outbound traffic, a feature lacking in the old bridge due to its inadequate capacity to accommodate the growing influx of vehicles.
Stretching over 1.6 kilometres, the bridge serves as a vital link between Anambra and Delta states. It is expected to alleviate congestion on the existing Niger Bridge, stimulate economic activities, and enhance connectivity between the South-East and other regions of the country.
Efforts to contact the ministry spokesperson, Blessing Adams-Lere, for official confirmation, were unsuccessful at the time of writing, as calls went unanswered.
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