There was tumultuous joy in the South East last week especially among those living in the commercial city of Onitsha and its environs and including people in some parts of Edo, Delta and Imo states, when construction giant, Julius Berger, began mobilizing to site to commence the construction of the long awaited Second Niger Bridge in Onitsha, Anambra State.

The presence of the construction giant at the foot of the Niger Bridge within the Onitsha axis and the berthing of several barges belonging to the company triggered jubilation in various parts of the commercial city and attracted widespread commendation for the Federal Government. Julius Berger won the contract to construct the long awaited bridge across River Niger. Two weeks ago, at the 43rd Julius Berger Annual General Meeting (AGM), its Managing Director, Mr Wolfgang Goetsch disclosed that the Federal Government had given Julius Berger a letter of intent, which would enable it to do preliminary work such as soil testing and engineering design.

He explained that the bridge would be built under the private-public partnership arrangement.

“A consortium that included a South African firm participated in the bidding for the project. In January 2013, our group became the preferred bidder. We are excited because it will be the first of its kind in Nigeria,” he noted.

Investigation by Sunday Sun revealed that Julius Berger brought to the agreement table, the sum of N100billion, while the Federal Government is paying 30 percent equity.

The 30 percent equity by government, according to our investigation, would be generated through the SURE-P programme.

Giving insight into the project, the Special Adviser to the Minister of Works on Media, Mr Tony Ikpasaja, said the total length of the bridge including the accompanying road is 12.4 kilometres.

Said Ikpasaja: “the entire bridge and approach road is 12.4Km. The bridge itself is 1.8km, while the approach road is 10.6km.”

He said, “the approach road begins from Asaba before the airport, and veers to the right to hit the bridge, while from the bridge, the road takes you into Onitsha-Owerri road and also, to Onitsha-Enugu road.”

the Onitsha River Port located few metres away from the Old Niger Bridge which is temporarily being used by officials of Julius Berger, there were many barges that had berthed along the River Niger laden with some heavy equipment belonging to the construction giant.

Among the barges were those with registration no IMO 9362554 5 NLD5 carrying some equipment to be used by site engineers who were busy in various parts of the state conducting what they termed preliminary analysis.

Though Julius Berger Public Relations Officer, PRO, Mr. Joseph Ojelade declined comments on the preparation for the full commencement of the project, a senior site engineer who pleaded anonymity on the ground that he was not authorized to speak to the press said the company was ready to complete the project on time and to specifications.

“As you see, we have started mobilizing to the site. It is part of the things that distinguishes us from other construction companies and we will not like to let Nigerians who have trust in us down. Some of these equipment that have started arriving belong to the small category that we are using to conduct our preliminary analysis. What we are doing now is to bring these equipment down. Many of the barges have arrived and we have offloaded these ones and have gone back to bring others.”

“We are just doing preliminary works, pending the finalization of the contract. We are still waiting for that. We are thinking maybe in two months time, that is my thinking though, I’m not so sure.”

Meanwhile, so many prominent Igbo sons and daughters have lauded President Goodluck Jonathan for fulfilling his campaign promise of constructing the second Niger Bridge, adding that the zone had been made to pass through untold hardship because of the failure of successive governments to construct the bridge.

The Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe said the need for the second Niger Bridge cannot be overemphasized, noting “the bridge when completed will help not only Ndigbo but all Nigerians and will also open up this part of the country for economic viability. We thank President Goodluck Jonathan for delivering on his campaign promises.”

Igwe Achebe also expressed satisfaction with the construction company that was awarded the contract, saying “when I heard that the contract for the construction of the second bridge was awarded to Julius Berger, I quickly knew that the Federal Government was sincere in the construction of the bridge.”

The former President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Dr. Dozie Ikedife also thanked the Federal Government for the commencement of the construction of the second Niger Bridge and urged them to make sure that nothing hampers the timely completion of the important project.

Where is uncle Gbawe and his fellow ants on nairaland who always see evil in what other people does. Wouldnt you come and rant your own. Take dat the nairaland fake resident enginner. Tolexander or tomakit what is ur name called. Demdem that always call people m.or.on in nairaland. Finaly i here by call on musiwa to come and show us the ariel map of the bridge.

GEJ STILL REMAIN MY NUMBER 1 OPTION ANY TIME ANY DAY...TRANSPORTERS WILL TESTIFER BETTER

nyabingi:
Mr Tony Ikpasaja, said the total length of the bridge 1.8km,

without FG support, Ndigbo are too poor to construct a bridge of 1.8km.

aze:

without FG support, Ndigbo are too poor to construct a bridge of 1.8km.

mr rich man? why don't yuh construct it for them.. Since they're too poor.. Idiott!

aze:

without FG support, Ndigbo are too poor to construct a bridge of 1.8km.

A 100 billion naira bridge is huge, hope you know that ? . .Now sheath your sly attempt on such a thread . . .

IT IS A GOOD STEP.
DESPITE THE FACT THAT NIGERIANS WILL PAY A TOLL FOR PASSAGE.
I THINK GIVING THE SERVICE IS THE FIRST THING.
WHETHER TO PAY FOR IT OR NOT IS THE NEXT.
BRAVO JONAH, IF THE EASTERNERS FELT IT OK TO PAY A TOLL. THEN IT IS OK BY ALL.
BUT THEY SHOULD MAKE THE TOLL REASONABLE.
GOD BLESS NDIGBO GBURUGBURU.

I have said it b4 dt PPP is d best way to solve our infrastructural problems, let gov give all this important axis to private companies to build and tow them to get their money back, gov should focus on smaller project that corruption can allow them to do. Thank God FG has come to their senses by following Lagos state gov in this PPP infrastructural development and i wish other state gov like Oyo, Rivers, Anambra, Kano, Kaduna, Enugu, Ogun, Edo, Cross Rivers, Delta, Ondo and other state that is economically ripe for it should not be reluctant to follow this step. Instead of borrowing money dt will end in d porket of politicians in d name of infrastructural development.

Redoil: Where is uncle Gbawe and his fellow ants on nairaland who always see evil in what other people does. Wouldnt you come and rant your own. Take dat the nairaland fake resident enginner. Tolexander or tomakit what is ur name called. Demdem that always call people m.or.on in nairaland. Finaly i here by call on musiwa to come and show us the ariel map of the bridge.

childish!