The Director-General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory
Commission, Aminu Diko, has said that the construction of the long
awaited 2nd Niger Bridge is still on course.
This was contained in a statement signed and made available to newsmen
by the Director-General on Wednesday in Abuja.
Diko disputed reports that the project was “on hold, stalled, being
probed” or even “suspended”.
The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that the Director-General recently
briefed President Muhammadu Buhari and the media on the status of the
bridge, which had since then received bad publicity.
Diko said: “During My visit with the President, I expressed concerns
about project cost vis-à-vis projected toll fees and engagement of
community stakeholders whose land would be affected along the bridge’s
right of way.
“The commission would like to see the Niger Bridge completed to
alleviate the plight travelers face on that route, especially during
festivities.
“We know that it is critical, we also know how Nigerians suffer during
festive holidays and we hear people sleep on that old bridge. The time
has come to bring succor to Nigerians.”
Diko said as a Public Private Partnership, the project must pass
through various checks to satisfy the Federal Government and investors
alike of its viability and also to ensure people got value for money.
Diko said apart from the Niger Bridge, ICRC was working with private
partners on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, the Sagamu-Ore-Benin Road and
the Murtala Mohammed Road.
He added that the three Deep Seaports at Akwa Ibom, Lekki, and Badagry
and also the agriculture silos and hydro power were some of the
projects the commission was working on.
Diko said: “All these projects are important to the nation and it is
in our interest that they are successful.
“Most importantly, our duty is not only to oversee the provision of
quality infrastructure services, but also to ensure that the nation
and citizens are not shortchanged by investors.”
NAN.
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