In a significant development, Julius Berger, the contractor responsible for the construction of the 2nd Niger Bridge, has officially handed over the completed project to the Federal Government of Nigeria. The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, presided over the handover ceremony, expressing gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari, for their unwavering support that facilitated the successful completion of the project.
Senator Umahi, speaking at the event, commended the All Progressive Congress-led administration under President Tinubu’s leadership, expressing confidence that more projects would be delivered across the country. He also acknowledged and praised Julius Berger for their role in delivering the 2nd Niger Bridge.
While celebrating the accomplishment, the Minister pointed out the need for some ancillary works to be completed, particularly the interchange on the Asaba end of the road. He emphasized that this completion would eliminate the necessity for road users to navigate through Asaba town, reducing traffic congestion before accessing the bridge.
To address this, the Minister revealed the Federal Government’s plan to concession the interchange works to investors. These investors would recover their investments from toll plazas strategically placed on the road.
Furthermore, Senator Umahi disclosed an agreement reached between Julius Berger and the Ministry of Works regarding the power supply issue on the road and bridge. The company is set to deploy a solar system to ensure a constant supply of light, contributing to improved security along the route.
During the handover ceremony, Lars Richter, the Managing Director of Julius Berger, expressed gratitude to the Federal Government for entrusting their company with the pivotal project. He officially handed over the completed project to the client, the Federal Government.
Additionally, Obioha Bede, the Director of Bridges Designs South East of the Ministry, urged the people of the region to make judicious use of the bridge and protect the facilities from vandalism. The Minister, as part of the occasion, inspected other ongoing projects in the region, including the Enugu-Porthacourt highway, the Enugu-Onitsha Highway, and the collapsed New Artisan bridge in Enugu.
