Governors, Monarchs, Others Applaud Federal Govt Over 2nd Niger Bridge

The governors of Delta, Anambra and lmo states have described the handover of 2nd Niger Bridge linking Asaba and Onitsha in Delta and Anambra states as capable of transforming the economy of the South East and South-South regions.

The governors, Prof Chukwuma Soludo (Anambra), Dr lfeanyi Okowa (Delta), represented by his chief of staff, Hon Ovie Agas and Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the official commissioning and handover of the N206.151 billion project.

They spoke yesterday in Onitsha, Anambra State where the minister of labour, Chris Ngige led the governors, the president of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu and array of traditional rulers, including the Asagba of Asaba, Obi Prof Chike Edozien, Obi of Onitsha, His Majesty Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe and other stakeholders for the commissioning.

Okowa said the bridge represents “a promise-made and promise kept” by Buhari, for economic growth and gainful employment.

Soludo who listed five issues of marginalisation felt by South Easterners, to include, gas pipeline, road from Anambra to link Lokoja, access to the sea and dry port, said the 2nd Niger Bridge was an economic actor.

Uzodimma, who congratulated the president for delivering the project according to specification, said Buhari has opened the South-Eastern part of Nigeria to the entire world.

“Several governments have come and gone with empty promises. He asked us for votes, we did not give him but made a promise and he fulfilled. He is my hero. Naming the bridge after him is my joy especially tears of joy on my face,” Uzodimma said.

In his goodwill message, Ngige, who collaborated Uzodimma that Buhari broke the jinx of false promises and political statements by completing the project, said posterity would judge him right.

“In 2015, President Buhari made a promise, today it is a promise given and promise kept, Mr President, you have lifted lots of loads from those of us from the east and politicians. This solves significant and major hardships between the east and west and east and north,” Ngige stated.

While the Obi of Onitsha lamented that the project passed through four successive administrations, he hailed President Buhari for being the game-changer that ensured socio-economic enhancement of the South-East, South-South and South-West geo political zones through easy movement of goods and services.

The Asagba of Asaba, who described the project as “a well-executed landmark parting-gift” to ease traffic congestion, requested that the uncompleted Asaba section of project be handed over to the incoming federal government.

The project was awarded by former President Goodluck Jonathan on July 25, 2018 to the Julius Berger Nigeria (JBN) but was completed by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The new bridge was designed to complement the existing bridge that was built in 1965 and has remained the crucial East-West link for decades. But due to age, excessive axle load and immense traffic congestion, arising from the enhanced economic activities on the South-East and South-West transport corridor, the ministry initiated and commenced the construction of the 2nd Niger Bridge.