By Miriam Humbe
The Federal Government yesterday, in Abuja, debunked reports suggesting that work on the Second River Niger Bridge project has been suspended, saying the work has continued to progress as scheduled for the timely completion of the bridge, which is being executed under the Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) arrangement for a concessional period of 25 years.
A statement issued by Director of Information in the Ministry of Works, Mr. Bisi Agbonhin, said the ministry is working with the Julius Berger-NSIA Motorways Investment Company (JB-NMIC) Consortium, the preferred bidder for the development of the Second River Niger Bridge Project, to ensure timely execution of the project.
“Under an Early Works Arrangement, the nominated EPC contractor, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, has commenced full mobilization to site and timely execution of scheduled activities is anticipated”, he said.
The JB-NMIC Consortium, according to him, has assured that compliance with Nigerian Environmental Laws is of paramount priority and that Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) is an intrinsic part of the Early Works, which is being carried out in compliance with the environmental laws of Nigeria.
He assured the people of the South-East geo-political zone and indeed all Nigerians of the Federal Government’s resolve to actualize it.
