The
Director-General, The Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC),
Mr Aminu Diko, has said that the construction of the long awaited 2nd Niger
Bridge is still on course.
Director-General, The Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC),
Mr Aminu Diko, has said that the construction of the long awaited 2nd Niger
Bridge is still on course.
This is contained in a statement signed and made
available to newsmen by the Director-General on Wednesday in Abuja.
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”.
hold’’, “stalled”, “ being probed” or even “suspended”.
Recall that the Director-General recently briefed
President Buhari and the media on the status of the bridge, which had since
then received bad publicity.
President Buhari and the media on the status of the bridge, which had since
then received bad publicity.
“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.
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 that travelers face on that route,
especially during festivities.
completed to alleviate the plight that 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.’’
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.
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 that 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.
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.
Lekki, and Badagry and also the agriculture silos and hydro power were some of
the projects the commission was working on.
“ All these projects are important to the nation and
it is in our interest that they are successful.
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 short-changed by investors.’’
the provision of quality infrastructure services, but also to ensure that the
nation and citizens are not short-changed by investors.’’
