Nigeria: Federal Controller of Works in Delta disclosed the Second Niger Bridge would Open to traffic on December 15th 2022

By Abdul Rahman Bangura–

NEW AFRICA DAILY NEWS (NADN) Freetown, Sierra Leone- According to Babatunde Fashola, the Minister of Works and Housing mandated the opening of the bridge, which is 95% finished, to lessen traffic during the Christmas and New Year celebrations.

“As we know, during the Christmas celebration, commuters suffer hardship accessing the old Niger Bridge ddue to traffic jams but with this arrangement, traffic congestion on Asaba-Benin Expressway will ease,” Olawale told.

“We have notified the state government of this arrangement and we are working with the Federal Roads Safety Corps to ensure hitch-free vehicular movement.

“Motorists going towards Owerri direction would divert through the access road near the old Niger Bridge to the new bridge.”

Olawale proved to the contrary alleges that the Federal Administration had relinquished the fee of reimbursement to residence landlords along the access landlord’s second Niger Bridge. He understood that the administration had not seized ownership of any property along the 17-kilometer Okpanam-Ibusa-Asaba-Oko bypass to the new bridge, but only fulfilled attention that, their struc17-kilometer within the government right-ofway.

The controller said that the modalities for fee of compensations were being worked out.

“The federal government has appointed a consultant, Messrs C.O. Akpabor and Company to enumerate the properties for compensation,” Olawale said.

“Each claimant has an attorney that liaises with the consultant, so there is no need for protest, more so that the federal government has not taken possession of the properties nor commenced construction work on the access road.

“At the moment, nobody’s structure or property has been demolished.

“The federal government validation team has toured and delivered its report to Abuja and the government will pay all compensation before work will commence on the access road.”

Olawale ensured that the administration would finalize construction work on the 17km access road before May 29, 2023. In October, Fashola said the link roads to the bridge were yet under construction.

“Second Niger Bridge is completed. What is remaining is a 4km interchange road at the Asaba end and 2km out of a 7km link road at the Onitsha end,” Fashola had noted.

For New Africa Daily News Abdul Rahman Bangura Reports,  Africa Correspondent