The groundbreaking ceremony of the second Niger Bridge will be performed on the 10th of March, President Goodluck Jonathan announced on Tuesday.
He broke the news to a delegation from Anambra state led by the Obi of Onitsha, His Royal Majesty, Nnaemeka A. Achebe.
The delegation was on a thank you visit to the President for the support he gave the outgoing Governor Peter Obi, who is billed to handover to the Governor-Elect, Willie Obiano, on March 17.
President Jonathan said the ground breaking was delayed to ensure that the funding is properly worked out, saying he would not want the project to stop once it is started.
“On the second Niger bridge, President Jonathan announced that the groundbreaking ceremony would be done on the 10th of March, this year”, he announced.
The President spoke further, “But I said that until we are fully ready, until the finances have been worked out, I would not want to go for a break breaking ceremony and another two years, four years, another President would go there again for another ground breaking ceremony, that we must work out the finances.
“The Finance Minister and the Works Minister must work out details so that if we are going for the ground breaking ceremony, we know that the work will not stop until the project is completed and God willing that is what it is going to be, we have agreed to come on Monday, the 10th of this month, we will quickly do the ground breaking, I think it is about 11 am on Monday morning before we rush back to Abuja to inaugurate the National Conference delegates”.
“Peter Obi worked very hard as a governor, very friendly to the government, he is a member of our Economic Management Team and an Honourary Adviser to the President on Finance and Commercial areas and he worked very hard, attended all the meetings, made very meaningful contributions.
“And even the day we announced that he may be leaving, the suggestion was that we should still keep him even if he is no longer the Governor of Anambra State. That is the relationship we had, “the President noted.
On the delegation were: Emeka Sibeudu-Deputy Governor, Chief Willie Obiano-Governor Elect, Anambra State, Dr. Nkem Okeke -Deputy Governor Elect, HRM, Alfred Achebe-Obi of Onitsha and Chairman of Anambra State Council of Traditional Rulers, Chairman Diamond Bank and Chairman Uniliver Plc, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife-Former Governor, Anambra State, HE, Mrs. Chinyere Asika-Wife of the Former Governor of East Central State and Senior Special Assistant on NEPAD to Mr. President, Sir. Victor Umeh-National Chairman of APGA, Chief Olisah Metuh-National Organizing Secretary PDP, Sen. Ben Obi-Special Adviser to the President on inter party affairs, Hon. Chinwe Nwaebili-Speaker, Anambra State House of Assembly, Prof. Ben Nwabueze-Former Minister of Education, Iyom Josephine Anineh-Former Minister of Women Affairs.
Others were APGA, chairman, Chief Victor Umeh, foremost businessman, Chief Arthur Eze, Bishop Hilary Okeke-Representing Catholic Church in Anambra State, Rev. William Okoye -Former Chaplain, Aso Rock Chapel ,Chief Cletus Ibeto-Chairman/CEO Ibeto Group of Companies, Chief (Sir), Chika Okafor-Chairman/CEO Chicason Group and Chief Innocent Chukwuma-MD/CEO Innoson Motors Ltd.
