Buhari Will Commission 2nd Niger Bridge Before Leaving Office , Eng. Kailani Assures

Buhari Will Commission 2nd Niger Bridge Before Leaving Office , Eng. Kailani Assures 

...says It Will Ease Traffic,  Boost Commercial Activities, Create Jobs 

The Director Media and Publicity , Presidential Support Committee on the achievements of President Muhammadu Buhari gave assurance  that the 2nd Bridge would be  commissioned  before President Muhammadu Buhari  leaves office 2023.

He said  apart from the thousands of kilometers of roads constructed across the nation, President Buhari has partially opened up the 2ND Niger Bridge to allow for hitch –free flow of traffic in the South East. 

"With this partial opening, those wishing to travel to the Eastern part of Nigeria during the Yelutide period will experience a new dawn, devoid of the normal stress."he stated.

Addressing journalists in Kaduna during he weekend , Engineer Muhammad Kailani ,who spoke on general infrastructural developments by the President Muhammadu Buhari’s government said the bridge will enhance the free movement of human traffic, boost commercial activities, create job opportunities and stimulate host community economic activities.

According the him, the 2nd Niger Bridge has been in the pipeline for ages now. 

While speaking further on the giant strides of Buhari's administration in the areas of transportation , he said, "Despite the billions of naira spent by the federal government in both capital maintenance and dredging of the River Niger to make it all-year round navigable and boost economic activities on the waterways, the operations of the inland water transport sector still remains a far cry." 

He further explained: "Let it be noted that the River Niger and its tributaries were the most reliable channels of transportation and communication in the pre-colonial and the post colonial period. It still remains one of the most critical natural assets that hold good prospect for economic diversification in Nigeria. 

"Until the late Umaru Musa Yar’adua emerged the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the move to dredge lower River Niger had remained a recurring project for every administration since independence.

"In 2008, the late president signed a N34.8 billion contract for the dredging of the lower River Niger from Warri to Baro and inaugurated the project on September 10, 2009 in Lokoja, the capital of Kogi State, with a three-year completion plan.He later did an upward review of the project with an additional N8.5bn, thus putting the entire estimate cost of the  project at N43.3bn. The review was hinged on inflationary spiral. 

"This initiative was meant to, among other reasons,make it navigable so as to enhance economic activities, reduce burden on highways, minimise accidents and create employment.

"But so far, there is no significant navigational proof to show that the project which is expected to commence from Warri to Baro, has ever commenced. Surprising former president Goodluck in January 2014, declared officially that his administration had completed the dredging of 527km lower River Niger from Warri to Baro.

"But what is on ground shows that the project is bogged down by ethnic politics and outright corruption by past administration over the years."