By Our correspondent
STRONG indications have emerged that the second Niger Bridge commissioned by the former President Muhammadu
Buhari at the twilight of his government will require over N260 billion to put it in use.
This is because the bridge will not be in use unless two bypasses in Asaba and Onitsha are constructed.
David Umahi, the minister of works disclosed this on Monday.
Umahi spoke in Abuja while defending his ministry’s 2024 budget proposal before the joint National Assembly Committee on Works, chaired by Senator Mpigi Barinada.
The minister said the bridge was facing serious challenges of constructing the approach roads 2A and 2B which were awarded by the Federal Executive Council, but have funding challenges to take-off.
According to Umahi , the remaining two bypasses in Asaba (2A) and Onitsha (2B) awarded to Julius Berger Nigeria Plc and Reynods Construction Company Nigeria Limited respectively, during the last Administration was initially estimated at about N200billion but now with inflation, the cost may be up to N260billion.
Umahi who appealed for the cooperation of the National Assembly to ensure the full implementation of the policy of construction of roads with concrete from next year, said that apart from being too expensive to import with foreign currency, the use of asphalt had been counter productive because it doesn’t last on roads compared to those constructed with concrete.
The Minister who noted that while the concrete roads could last up 50 years, asphalt ones had a lifespan of about 10 to 15 years.
He said embracing concrete roads would save the country a lot of foreign exchange because it would prevent frequent upward review of road projects.
Umahi said, “We have received a lot attacks concerning our policy to make concrete roads construction mandatory for our contractors. Some people were saying that it is illegal for us to insist on concrete for road construction.
“However, Article 2 of all contracts and clause 51 of all conditions forming the contracts allow the ministry to change the scope, quality and quantity of every contracts that is ongoing. We have right to change from asphalt to concrete without defiling the contract.
“All the contractors know this. The major reason we want to change from Asphalt to concrete is because we have many ongoing projects that needed to be reviewed.
