Second Niger Bridge Project: Fashola inspects project, Visits Zik’s Mausoleum, assures Obiano on refund of N50 Billion

www.odogwublog.com reports that the Federal Government on has assured Governor Willie Obiano that the over fifty Billion his administration spent on Federal roads in the state would be refunded.

This is coming as the Federal government says it has completed the designs for the link roads to the second Niger Bridge from the Onitsha and Asaba ends and is presently at procurement stage.

The Minister of Works, Power and Housing, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola disclosed this weekend when he inspected work on the project.

The Minister who is in Anambra State to inspect ongoing Federal Government projects, was received at the State's Border with Enugu at Amansea by the State Commissioner for Road Infrastructure, Furniture and Maintenance, Mr Marcel Ifejiofor, before he proceeded to inspect work on the 1.59 kilometre second Niger Bridge.

During the visit, it was observed that piling work has been done 15 percent from the Delta end while pile cases to be used for reinforcing the foundation of the bridge, have started arriving.

Mr Fashola who revealed that only the design of the bridge had been done when he assumed office as Minister, noted that aside the visible work on the bridge, the link roads that will lead to the bridge from both ends are progressing at an appreciable pace.

He further noted that the Federal Government is undertaking maintenance works on the existing Niger Bridge to ensure that it continues to effectively serve as a connection between the Eastern and Western Nigeria until the new one is completed.

The Minister assured that the Buhari administration is desirous to deliver the second Niger Bridge in a record time and will continue to release funds to ensure that the project is achieved on time.

The Federal Controller of Works in Charge of the Project, Mr Innocent Alumona said the initial project was awarded in three phases and all have been completed and they have moved into the fourth phase.

From the second Niger Bridge, the Minister proceeded to inspect work on the Ziks Mausoleum, Onitsha which was awarded in 2012 to the tune of 1.496 billion naira.

Speaking after the inspection, the Minister expressed dissatisfaction that despite having been paid in full, the contractor is yet to deliver the Project and urged him to speed up the pace of work.

The contractor however assured that he will deliver the Project by September, this year.

    He said the Federal Government is to commence termination of contracts of contractors who have received payments but did not deliver their projects.

The project which was awarded in 2012 by the Jonathan administration, had seen the contractor mobilize to site in 2013 but demobilized in 2014 due to non-payment of certificates generated.

Speaking after the inspection, Mr Fashola noted that for non -performing contractors who their contracts may not be terminated due to how far they have gone, government would ensure that they get future contracts based on the assessment of their performance with initial projects they have handled.

According to the Minister, since the Present Federal Administration had ensured that none of its contractors are owed, it has become imperative to initiate a measure that will keep them on their toes always.

Mr Fashola who said the Federal Government is exploring new ways of funding its projects, revealed that a major partner in that light has been the private sector, assuring that the Buhari administration is committed to working with all the State Governments of the Federation irrespective of party affiliations, to make life more meaningful for the people.

Earlier, the Federal Controller of Works in charge of Anambra State, Mr Innocent Alumona noted that all outstanding monies have been cleared and the contractor has been paid in full to deliver the Ziks Mausoleum.

Meanwhile, Governor Willie Obiano has said that the State Government is to construct a super Interchange by Revenue House/Eze-uzu Junction, Agu-Awka.

Governor Willie Obiano revealed this when he received the Minister of Works, Power and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, at the Governor's Lodge, Amawbia.

Mr. Fashola was in the State on a one-day working visit to inspect ongoing Federal Government Projects across the state.

Speaking after a close-door meeting with the Minister, Governor Obiano explained that the Interchange was designed to ease traffic and reduce accidents that occur frequently around the area.

He further revealed that during the meeting, he asked specific questions on the progress of work on the second Niger Bridge and the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway especially the very bad Umunya to Amawbia axis as well as on the refund of the over fifty billion naira owed the State on Federal Road works.

The Governor expressed happiness that the Minister gave the assurance that, things will be done differently this time, adding that Ndi Anambra are desirous of visible Federal presence in the State.

Responding, Mr. Fashola congratulated Governor Obiano for a well-deserved reelection which he acknowledged was as a result of his good stewardship.

He noted that the visit was a follow up on an appeal made by Governor Obiano during his visit last year for immediate intervention on Federal Government projects in the State, adding that as a result, the Federal Government has awarded the reconstruction of Umunya to Amawbia axis of the Enugu-Onitsha expressway.

According to him, the contractor had been fully mobilized to site and visible work will soon commence.

He noted that the Federal Ministry of Works will subject the proposed Interchange to analysis, assuring that as long as it commits to saving lives and the Federal Highway Laws, the Federal Government will collaborate with the State to bring it to fruition.

On the second Niger Bridge, Mr. Fashola promised that the present Federal Government is committed to delivering the project but solicited the assistance of Anambra and Delta State Governments in dealing with the issue of heavy claims by communities whose lands were used for the project which according to him, is presently at about five billion naira.