Julius Berger Plc has said that although construction works on the 2nd Niger Bridge has not reached the level of demolishing buildings, compensation would be paid for every building demolished in the course of the project.
Speaking in a telephone chat with Daily Sun the Corporate Communications Manager of Julius Berger, Mr. Clement Iloba, said that with the flag off of the real construction, and movement of machineries to the site work would soon begin.
Meanwhile businessman at the Onitsha Market axis who spoke to Daily Sun on the impact of the project on market demolition, Mr. Chineme Nwakobu, stated that every building that stands on the Right of Way of the bridge should be pulled down as the project was long over due.
He noted that the commencement of the job this time round by President Goodluck Jonathan was an indication of his tenacity of purpose and resolve to implement the project. “We shall pay him back during the 2015 general elections. Our people say, seeing is believing, I have seen it started and hope to see it completed. Thank you Goodluck, you are really good luck,” he said.
At an impressive ceremony attended by people from all walks of life, including for governor Peter Obi of Anambra, Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta, Theodore Orji of Abia and Martin Elechi of Ebonyi, as well as ministers and members of the National Assembly, President Jonathan gave an assurance that the project would be completed on schedule and according to specifications.
In a speech punctuated by ovations from the mammoth crowd that witnessed the ceremony, President Jonathan said the second Niger Bridge was critical to his administration’s resolve to improve the economic fortunes of the country, describing it as a fulfillment of one of his campaign promises.
According to him, he chose to perform the groundbreaking ceremony before the exit of Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State whose eight-year tenure ended last week because of the governor’s unrelenting efforts to ensure the project was realised. “It is my resolve and that of my administration to ensure that this unity bridge is built to connect Asaba and Onitsha.
I want to urge the governors of Anambra and Delta states to ensure that the project is built on time and according to specification.”
Minister for Works, Mr. Mike Onolemenen, said the project, as part of the transformation agenda of Mr. President, was to improve the infrastructural and socio-economic activities of the nation.
The minister explained that the Federal Government would execute the project under the Public Private Partnership (PPP), arrangement for a concessional period of 25 years through Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer (DBFOT) model.
