Babatunde Fashola
Speaking on Monday when he visited Onitsha, the commercial city of Anambra state, to inspect the progress of work on the second Niger Bridge, Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, says the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government is committed to completing the second Niger Bridge and Zik’s Mausoleum.
The minister who also inspected other major projects in the state, said when completed, the bridge would bring an improvement and accelerate the economic prosperity, transportation and exchange of goods and services across the country.
“I came here in pursuant of the commitment of the Federal Government and that of President Muhammadu Buhari to complete the bridge.
“It will give relief to the first Niger Bridge and also help in ensuring that it is now kept in a good state of repair and maintenance,” he said.
Fashola said that the Federal Government would compensate appropriate land owners and ensure that the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was taken care of, adding that the bridge is the Federal Government’s first measure towards a Public Private Partnership with some investors.
The minister also described the project as one of the largest infrastructural work being embarked upon by the Federal Government, and called for commitment on the part of host communities, urging them not to interrupt the progress of the project or engage in hostilities.
Speaking on the late Nnamdi Azikiwe’s mausoleum in Onitsha, the minister said that the abandoned project would be completed, adding that it was one little way to appreciate those who had served the country.
In his remarks, Gov. Willie Obiano of Anambra stressed the importance of the second Niger Bridge and expressed the hope that the project would be completed in good time and commended the Federal Government for refunding about N43.8 billion expended by the state government to reconstruct and rehabilitate some federal roads.
The governor appealed to the Federal Government to consider the completion of the Umunya axis of the Enugu-Onitsha Express Way, to guard against accidents, and called for the completion of the Nnewi Sub-power station, saying that it would benefit the industrial town and neighbouring Imo communities economically.