Second Niger bridge: Jubilation in South-East as Julius Berger moves to site

There was tumultuous joy in the South East last week especially among those living in the commercial city of Onitsha and its environs and including people in some parts of Edo, Delta and Imo states, when construction giant, Julius Berger, began  mobilizing to site to commence the construction of the long awaited Second Niger Bridge in Onitsha, Anambra State.

The presence of the construction giant at the foot of the Niger Bridge within the Onitsha axis and the  berthing of several barges belonging to the company  triggered jubilation in various parts of the commercial city and attracted widespread commendation for the Federal Government. Julius Berger  won the contract to construct the long awaited bridge across River Niger. Two weeks ago, at the 43rd Julius Berger Annual General Meeting (AGM), its Managing Director, Mr Wolfgang Goetsch disclosed that the Federal Government had given Julius Berger a letter of intent, which would enable it to do preliminary work such as soil testing and engineering design.


He explained that the bridge would be built under the private-public partnership arrangement.
“A consortium that included a South African firm participated in the bidding for the project. In January 2013, our group became the preferred bidder. We are excited because it will be the first of its kind in Nigeria,” he noted.

Investigation by Sunday Sun revealed that Julius Berger brought to the agreement table, the sum of N100billion, while the Federal Government is paying 30 percent equity.
The 30 percent equity by government, according to our investigation, would be generated through the SURE-P programme.

Giving insight into the project, the Special Adviser to the Minister of Works on Media, Mr Tony Ikpasaja, said the total length of the bridge including the accompanying road  is 12.4 kilometres.
Said Ikpasaja: “the entire bridge and approach road is 12.4Km. The bridge itself is 1.8km, while the approach road is 10.6km.”

He said, “the approach road begins from Asaba before the airport, and veers to the right to hit the bridge, while from the bridge, the road takes you into Onitsha-Owerri road and also, to Onitsha-Enugu road.”
When Sunday Sun visited the Onitsha River Port located few metres away from the Old Niger Bridge which is temporarily being used by officials of  Julius Berger, there were many barges that had berthed along the River Niger laden with some heavy equipment belonging to the construction giant.

Among the barges were those with registration no IMO 9362554 5 NLD5 carrying some equipment to be used by  site engineers who were busy in various parts of the state conducting what they termed preliminary analysis.

Though  Julius Berger Public Relations Officer, PRO, Mr. Joseph Ojelade declined comments on the preparation for the full commencement of the project, a senior site engineer who pleaded anonymity on the ground that he was not authorized to speak to the press said the company was ready to complete the project on time and to specifications.

“As you see, we have started mobilizing to the site. It is part of the things that distinguishes us from other construction companies and we will not like to let Nigerians who have trust in us down. Some of these equipment that have started arriving belong to the small category that we are using to conduct our preliminary analysis. What we are doing now is to bring these equipment down.  Many of the barges have arrived and we have offloaded these ones and have gone back to bring others.”

“We are just doing preliminary works,  pending the finalization of the contract. We are still waiting for that. We are thinking maybe in two months time, that is my thinking though, I’m not so sure.”

On the future of the existing Niger Bridge , the site engineer said “we don’t know what will happen to the existing bridge, I don’t think the bridge is completely damaged. They will not pull it down; it may still be in existence even after the completion of the second Niger Bridge. It’s the Federal Government that will determine the fate of the existing bridge but as a company we are more focused on the job given to us to construct the new bridge across the River Niger.”

Also speaking, another staff member of Julius Berger  who also didn’t want his name in print said “the second bridge will come but the time of the completion is what I can’t tell because it should only be known by the top management of the company and as for me, I don’t  have any business with the time and specification of the project.”

On the challenges facing the company so far at the time of the project, he said “we have not experienced any difficulty yet.  We are a good contracting firm and that was why when we bid for the contract, after evaluation and critically analysing the companies that made bids, we were chosen as the best to handle it and I can tell you that we shall have no problem that could hamper the timely delivery and completion of the second Niger Bridge.”

Meanwhile, so many prominent Igbo sons and daughters have lauded President Goodluck Jonathan for fulfilling his campaign promise of constructing the second Niger Bridge, adding that the zone had been made to pass through untold hardship because of the failure of successive governments to construct the bridge.
The Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe said the need for the second Niger Bridge cannot be overemphasized, noting “the bridge when completed will help not only Ndigbo but all Nigerians and will also open up this part of the country for economic viability. We thank President Goodluck Jonathan for delivering on his campaign promises.”

Igwe Achebe also expressed satisfaction with the construction company that was awarded the contract, saying “when I heard that the contract for the construction of the second bridge was awarded to Julius Berger, I quickly knew that the Federal Government was sincere in the construction of the bridge.”

The former President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Dr. Dozie Ikedife also thanked the Federal Government for the commencement of the construction of the second Niger Bridge and urged them to make sure that nothing hampers the timely completion of the important project.

“The Federal Government must make sure that paucity of funds does not affect the construction and completion of the Second Niger Bridge . It must be able to pay for all certificates generated by the contruction company and I wish to tell Julius Berger that they have attained a certain level of height in the country through quality jobs, they must not fail this time because this project is very important to the country and Africa in general.”

Member representing Anaocha/Dunukofia/Njikoka Federal Constituency, Mrs. Uche Ekwunife further challenged Ndigbo to remain grateful to President Jonathan for the commencement of the construction of the second Niger Bridge, adding that the zone had never had it so good.She thanked President Goodluck Jonathan for allowing good judgment to determine the award of the contract to a competent contracor, adding “the exercise for the award of the contract was characterized by good judgment and the federal   government did well in allowing competence take the centre stage instead of personal gains. Second Niger Bridge is not a project that should be handled by just any construction company but we are proud that a competent international company got the contract and has started mobilizing to the site.”

For the President General Ndigbo United Assembly, Sir Peter Okala, the development called for celebration. According to him, “even if the project does not begin immediately, we are happy that at last, we are seeing visible efforts being made by the Federal Government to construct and complete the bridge.”

“Ndi Igbo are indeed very happy and we shall continue to supervise the project, give the contractors adequate security to do their job without any hindrance. On that angle, Ndigbo United Assembly shall collaborate with security agencies to give maximum security to the contractors to allow for good job. The second Niger Bridge, when completed, will not benefit only Igbo people but the country at large because it will help Nigeria regain its lost economic leadership in the rest of the Africa continent and the world at large.”
A business mogul, Chief Godwin Okeke also lauded President Goodluck Jonathan for the commencement of the project, stressing that it will help reduce dangers  of travelling  often caused by failed  roads all over the country and poor bridges where they existed.

“For the business class, it calls for celebration because we are going to experience a turnaround in  reviving the economy of Ndigbo. Let me tell you, before now, Ndigbo have been experiencing very bad days in business but I have strong belief that the bridge when completed will open up all businesses in this part of the country and we will be exporting our goods to the rest of the country.”

He further described as unfortunate the condition of the only existing  bridge that links South-East to the rest of the world before the intervention of President Jonathan and expressed optimism that the company handling it would deliver the project on time and to specifications.

Source: The Sun Newspaper