Commissioning of 2nd Niger Bridge by end EndSARS protests, COVID 19 lockdown- Fashola

…Says bridge now 91 per cent completed

The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, has said that the scheduled commissioning of the Second Niger Bridge in February was delayed by the End SARS protests and the Covid 29 lockdown.

Fashola spoke at the special weekly briefing of the Presidential Communications Team at the State House, Abuja on Thursday.

However, the minister said that the bridge had got to 91 percent completion.

The minister said further that a total of 1,486 people are employed for the ongoing construction work on the Second Niger Bridge which according to him also created 8,110 indirect jobs.

Fashola who also spoke on three major projects executed under the Presidential Infrastructure Development Funds put the total cost for the key projects at N1.3 trillion.

He listed the projects to include the 375km Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Expressway ( N797 bn), the 11.59 km Second Niger Bridge (N206 billion), and 127km Lagos-Ibadan Expressway at awarded at cost N310 billion.

Fashola hinted that while the Lagos Ibadan Express Way and Second Niger Bridge are billed to be completed in 2022, the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano expressway is expected to be completed by the second quarter of 2023.

The purpose of the briefing was to give a necessary update on collaborative efforts between the federal and state governments in the execution of projects under the ministry and the PIDF.

Fashola expressed concern over comments by road users commending the quality of the completed roads that they now drive at 150 kilometers per hour on the new roads.

He cautioned road users against overspeeding on roads urging them to avoid driving above 100 kilometers per hour.

The minister condemned the sale of petroleum products on the roads which he said was bad.