By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
Respite may have come the way of
commuters using the ever-busy Asaba-Onitsha road as the federal government has concluded plans to partially open the much-awaited 2nd Niger Bridge for public use during the yuletide.
This cheering news was dropped by the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN while briefing State House Correspondents after the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa Abuja today.
According to the Minister, the federal government is favourably disposed to open a section of the 2nd Niger Bridge partially for public use this December to reduce the heavy gridlock on the existing bridge.
Said he: Considering the untold hardships commuters go through on the Asaba-Onitsha road especially on the old Niger Bridge during festive period like the Christmas and New Year, federal government has decided open one section of the 2nd Niger Bridge in December”
Fashola argued that the 2nd Niger Bridge is almost completed, although work is still on-going on the approach roads from Asaba end of the bridge, adding that works have been completed on the approach roads from Onitsha end of the bridge.
He however said there are plans in place to open the East-Bound road from Asaba end to relief heavy traffic on the old Niger Bridge during the yuletide, pointing out that traffic will again be diverted to West-Bound of the new bridge after the festivities.
The former Lagos state governor also revealed that government will close the entire 2nd Niger Bridge after the yuletide to enable the contractors complete the project and formally hand it over to the Nigeria government.
Meanwhile, the Minister has blamed the delay.in the completion of the 2nd Niger Bridge by the present regime on many factors especially the high rate of inflation which has made the cost of the project to increase astronomically.
Fashola however promised that the project will be completed and commissioned by President Muhammadu Buhari before he leaves office in May 2023.
