By BRIDGET AGETU
President Muhammadu Buhari today commissioned the second Niger bridge linking the South East with other parts of the country.
The 336 billion naira bridge regarded as a legacy project was commissioned alongside six other road project by the president via an online platform, Zoom. President Buhari explained that his administration’s commitment to upgrade infrastructure in the project was a deliberate choice to fight poverty and provide development for Nigerians.
He disclosed that some of the borrowed funds by his administration were used for the execution of major projects across the country.
The President said the bridge and other projects he commissioned fulfilled his promise to invest in feasible assets that would outlast his administration and put recovered crime proceeds to enduring use.
While stressing that the aim of the second Niger bridge was to bring relief to those travelling the length and breadth of the South East, he said the commissioning of the Second Niger Bridge symbolized the country’s shaping to development.
The State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa represented by the Chief of Government House, Honourable Ovie Agas, said the importance of the project could not be overemphasized as it would decongest traffic on the existing Niger Bridge, boost economic activities and connect the South-East with the rest of the country.
He commended the president for the gesture.
The Governor of Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, and Mr. Hope Uzodinma of Imo State, lauded President Buhari heroic effort in completing the bridge, which had made the accessibility of the South East a dream come true.
They urged the incoming administration to help in the dredging of the river Niger and the construction of an expressway that would link the South East to Lokoja in Kogi State, among other impactful projects that would develop the South East.
The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola noted with joy that after many failed promises by previous administrations, the second Niger Bridge was fully completed and commission.
He pointed out that the new bridge was more extensive and could accommodate more vehicles on its lanes, than the old bridge.
Mr. Fashola stressed that the bridge would help develop the country economically and above all reduce travel time.
The Works Minister disclosed that the last week of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari would be the most momentous transition week in the history of the country, with the commissioning of three brand new bridges, second Niger Bridge, the Loko-Oweto Bridge and the Ikom Bridge in Cross Rivers among other legacy project.
The Asagba of Asaba, Professor Chike Edozien, in his address read by Ogbueshi Patrick Ndidi and a representative of the Asagba, the Odogwu of Asaba, Ogbueshi Nwanze Oduah said the project would ease movement of persons and goods, and would impact positively on the lives of Nigerians.
The consultant to the Asaba Monarch on Land Matters, Ogbueshi Ofili Mordi expressed appreciation for the completion of the bridge, but urged the federal government to commence work on the phase 2A so that the social and economy wellbeing of the people of the area would be restored.
They told the president that with the execution of the Second Niger Bridge, he had written his name in gold and Deltans would cherish the project till the end of time.
The bridge was officially commissioned by President Muhammadu Buhari, via zoom.