The Federal Government has awarded the contract for additional early works on the Second Niger Bridge linking Delta and Anambra States in the South-South and South-East geopolitical zones.

The contractor handling the project is Messrs Julius (Nig.) Ltd. at a total cost of N14,446,010,416.16.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Mohammed Abdullahi, Assistant Director (Information) at the Federal Ministry of Works, confirmed that the existing Niger Bridge which was commissioned on January 4, 1966 is severely overstressed and its continued serviceability cannot be assured.

“The idea of a Second Niger Bridge started way back in the late 1970s but its realisation has been delayed by several challenges. The administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is committed to the completion of this important project," the Ministry said.

In a related development, the Federal Government has also awarded a contract for emergency repairs of Tamburawa Bridge along Kano- Kaduna Dual Carriageway in Kano State to Messrs. Borini Prono & Co. (Nig.) Ltd. The cost of the project is N1,898,456,175.00 with a 12-month completion period.

According to the Ministry, the scope of works for the Emergency Repairs involves the use of rock-filled gabion protection with Reno mattresses, fitters and embankment protection to the abutments. This intervention is premised on the public outcry and concern earlier expressed by the Executive Governor of Kano State over the scouring around the piles and exposure of substructures of the said bridge and subsequent integrity test carried out by engineers from the ministry.

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