BY SUNNY DAVID
The Second Niger Bridge will be opened to vehicular traffic in the fourth quarter of year 2022.
A Director and Federal Controller of Works, Federal Ministry of Works, Engineer Adeyemo Ajani unveiled this while addressing Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, South East Zone, led by its Vice President, Comrade Stella Igboka, who came to inspect the level of work done so far at the site.
According to him, the eleven-point-three-kilometer project, fully funded by the Federal government at the sum of two hundred point six billion naira, started in 2019, and is more than eighty-three percent completed with modern technology.
Engineer Ajani said the bridge, which has three lane and would have been completed before now if not for delays occasioned by COVID-19, and protests gave strong assurance that those coming back for 2022 Christmas celebration will make use of the Second Niger Bridge.
Contributing, the Health Safety and Environmental Manager, Mr. Tim Oseghe, who guided the tour, said Julius Berger is proud to be part of the development of the South East Region, pointing out that they did not record any injury in the course of executing the project.
Engineer Yetunde, a female engineer, who led in the tour, threw more light on the Obosi Interchange saying that the access road from Delta to the Second Niger Bridge is three-point-three kilometers while from Anambra is seven kilometers.
Speaking shortly after the inspection, Comrade Igboka expressed satisfaction with the advancement of work, which according to her, is strategic to South-East and South-South and thanked the Federal government for making it a reality.
Also, the News Manager, Kpakpando FM, Comrade Monic Okechukwu, who said that seeing is believing, expressed hope that the project will be delivered according to specification.
Correspondent Oggorchukwu Oranu, who covered the inspection tour, reports that members of NAWOJ walked on the Second Niger Bridge where heavy equipment and Engineers were seen doing various aspects of the construction work.
Among the entourage were the Manager, UNIZIK FM, Comrade Ify Obi, News Manager, NTA Onitsha, Comrade Maureen Ezeokeke, Head of News, ABS, Onitsha, Comrade Chinyelu Obiejesi, and Deputy Director ABS News, Comrade Ebele Ezeh among others.
